Does What I Believe Make a Difference?

Until Then Sweet Rose by John Waterhouse


Our conduct has a direct influence

on how people think about the gospel.

The world doesn't judge us by our theology;

the world judges us by our behaviour.

People don't necessarily want to know

what we believe about the Bible.

They want to see if what we believe

makes a difference in our lives.

Our actions either bring glory to

God or misrepresent His truth."

~ Mrs. Carolyn Mahaney ~

"Let your light shine before men in such a way
that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

~ Matthew 5:16 ~

A Privacy of Storm

"Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow, and, driving o'er the fields,
Seems nowhere to alight: the withered air
Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven,
And veils the farm-house at the garden's end.
The sled and traveler stopped, the courier's feet
Delayed, all friends shut out, and housemates sit
Around the radiant fireplace, enclosed
In a tumultuous privacy of storm."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

* * *

The middle *window* of the collage is what I look through when I'm sitting at our kitchen table, either studying, reading or eating a meal ~ I've always loved the view and it's especially breathtaking right after a heavy snowfall as seen in these photos taken a couple of days ago :o)

My Work

~ MY WORK ~

I have the greatest work in the world;

The job of rocking a baby to sleep,
That of guiding his tottering feet,
A baby's clothes to launder and fold,
A precious life to shape and mold,
A drink to give from a little cup,
At night his toys to gather up,
Hurts to heal and fears to quell,
A baby to keep clean and well,
A stack of diapers to put,
Oh, what a happy worthwhile day!
I am a "Mother."

I have the greatest work in to world;
A husband to encourge when things go wrong,
When he comes from work to greet with a song,
Denims and shirts to wash and mend,
A helping hand, when needed, to lend,
Three times a day is meals to cook,
To strive to be my best to look,
His back to rub at the close of the day,
For his faithfulness to God I pray,
When hubby's in the field I take lemonade,
for all these tasks his love has Paid.
I am a " Wife."

I have the greatest work in the world;
Ahome to keep happy, clean and bright,
Make things go smooth and strive for the right,
Jams to cook and jellies to make,
Cookies and pies and bread to bake,
Washing, ironing, and sewing to do,
So many tasks, will I ever get though?
Lettuce to was and peas to pick,
floors to scrub, lost items to seek,
Dishes to wash and windows to shine,
These and mony more tasks are mine.
I am a "Homemaker."

Help me, Father, to faithfully work,
Forgive if I unconsciously shirk,
give me the patience and love I pray,
To keep myself in duties' way;
With all the hustle that each day brings
May I not neglect the needing things;
Each day to spend time alone with Thee
That Jesus Christ be seen in me. 

Thank you for husband, our home, our girl and boys;
Thank you for love which brings me much joy.
Thank you , Lord.

~ Mary Lou Burkholder ~
 

A Very Blustery Day Here

Photo Credit

 

I know what Winnie the Pooh and his friends meant by a VERY BLUSTERY DAY because it's like that here today and is supposed to last the weekend ...

A perfect time for being inside, snug and cozy and thankful for a home to call our own ~ a time to snuggle and read a good book with a cup of HOT tea :o)

Even more quiet time to meditate on the Lord and all that He has done for me!

Yesterday Was Not Typical After All :o)

by British artist, Alison Griffin

Well, my typical Monday was NOT typical after all :o)

Even though my husband was off work, we got up earlier than we would have normally ... this enabled him to drop me off at the hospital to get blood work done in preparation for 5th my annual post-transplant check-up in a week's time and he then dropped off our car to get some regular maintenance done!

I took a taxi back home and when I was almost finished eating my brunch [I'd had to fast for some of the blood tests], the dealer called to say someone would be on their way to pick me up because our car was ready!

After the dealer's, I drove to buy gas, then did some grocery shopping. After one more errand, I was glad to return home.

While I was out, our had son phoned to say he'd be over for supper and to spend part of the evening with us so that was a nice surprise and later in the evening after he'd gone home, I had a chat with our daughter while she was riding the bus home from work far, far away ~ cell phones are wonderful sometimes, aren't they!?

So, other than doing the dishes and making supper and my husband's lunch for work, I didn't get anything done around the house ... but that's the beauty of being a homemaker -- what needs to be done won't go anywhere and it's not the end of the world that I didn't do anything about any of it yesterday ~ I've got today to do what I can :o)

The Lord obviously had other plans for me and they were far more exciting anyways!!

Blessings,

The Living Room & First Impressions

The Rose Room by Susan Rios

"The Living Room is the "room that gives our guests
their first impression of our home,
the room that speaks of the *mood* of the entire home,
-- perhaps your most important room.

Here you will entertain, relax, read,
listen to music, converse.
Are the chairs comfortable?
Can you read easily by the lamps you have?

Do you think it is an inviting room?
Is your family's taste expressed in this room?

Home to the Heart by Susan Rios

Your home is your paradise;
no matter how old or how new,
how small or how large;
let it reveal you, your family
and most of all -- your faith.

Do the pictures on your walls, the music ...
the magazines on your table witness to your visitors
of your faith in Jesus Christ
as Lord of your life and your home?"

~ Charlene Johnson in Beautiful Homemaking ~

A Very Blustery Day

It's a very blustery day in our neck of the woods!!

Since I had to run out to the mailbox at the end of the driveway anyway, I decided to take our camera with me and get a few shots, but once my mitts got wet, it was just too icy cold on my hands to stay outside very long --

The others were taken from my kitchen window . . . it's much more pleasant inside now that my fingers are feeling normal again and I'm enjoying a cup of very hot tea!

Blessings,

Craft Room in the Works

It's been busier than usual around here since last weekend as a friend has been staying with us all week and is leaving tomorrow.

My husband has to work tomorrow as well so that means I won't have the car but will have all kinds of time to do some *crafting* ... I'm going to try something new-to-me and just hope it turns out :o)

After almost 9 months of using our table as my crafting place and being frustrated by the need to put everything away before supper even if I'm in the middle of an UNfinished project, I finally decided to use a large table in the spare bedroom on the main floor. It has been covered with all sorts of STUFF and it took a lot of rearranging, but it's now working out quite well.

This BEFORE photo shows my son's old desk lamp that I brought upstairs as well as all the stacks of papers and stuff, some of which were moved elsewhere -- this room was my daughter's 1st room, so it still has the border we put on for her when she was very young and you can see that in the top left corner :o)

This AFTER photo shows the new fluorescent desk lamp I bought at Wal Mart that gives much better light on cards that I'm working on and the 2 - 3 drawer white plastic drawers that I bought there as well that hold all the stuff I need at my fingertips.

Because I was able to move most of my stuff to these drawers, I was finally able to use the bottom wide drawers to hold my 12" X 12" card stock and acid free paper. [I used to have this 3 drawer unit in the front part of the house so I could wheel it to the table and that was just getting too cumbersome to do anymore.]

I do plan on buying more of those 3 drawer white plastic units one day, but there is a LOT of re-arranging that has to be done before that can ever happen!

What you can't see in this photo is a desk that is on the wall to the left of this set-up and it holds a small lamp, a basket of writing material along with a few handmade cards so I can sit down and get a note written to someone at any time ... without having to clear away the table to set it for supper ~ what a difference that makes!

Blessings,

Welcome Sight of Home

You know that lovely, warm feeling that fills your heart when you've been away for awhile but are finally approaching home?!

Well, I felt that way this evening when I arrived safe and sound from the city where I'd been since the early afternoon.

Snow started to fall as I reached the highway and because I'm not a confident winter driver, I could feel that my whole body was tense as I drove s-l-o-w-l-y. The fairly heavy snow fell toward my windshield and lights, making it difficult to even see the lines on the road!

Finally, I reached our town and then drove until I came to our street, and there it was --- Home Sweet Home!!

May your evening be warm and cozy as you talk and spend time with your families,

Firelight Flicker of Home

Family Circle by Lee Stroncek

"The supreme test of goodness is not in the greater,
but in the smaller incidents
of our character and practice;

~ not what we are when standing
in the searchlight of public scrutiny,
but when we reach the firelight flicker of our homes;

~ not what we are when some clarion-call rings through the air,
summoning us to fight for life and liberty,
but our attitude
when we are called to sentry-duty
in the grey morning,
when the watch-fire is burning low.

It is impossible to be our best
at the supreme moment
if character is corroded and eaten into
by daily inconsistency,
unfaithfulness, and besetting sin."

~ Frederick Brotherton ( F. B. ) Meyer ~

Blessings,

What More Could I Ask for in a Job?

Autumn Flowers and Apples by Timothy Easton

This picture describes today in my neck of the woods and even still, I love fall days, whether sunny or rainy!

I made a discovery this morning on a very high, rarely used cupboard and have posted about it on my STILLMEADOW COTTAGE blog, if you'd like to visit there.

I purchased some pretty shelf liner last evening at the Dollar store and had enough to cover 3 shelves, for my glassware and 2 shelves for coffee and tea mugs. Now I'll have to return to buy enough to cover the rest of the cupboards :o)

Very shortly after my heart transplant over 4 years ago, my husband received a job [I say received because of how it all came about and will post about that someday] where he has worked the overnight shift until just about 1 month ago!

Now that he works the day shift at the same job, we don't eat supper until much later than we've ever been used to [about 7pm] as it's a 1 hour drive each way and believe me, it is taking some getting used to. I just hope that eating at that time doesn't make it easier to gain weight, because neither one of us needs that or wants it :o)

Tonight I'm planning on one of our favourites ~ scalloped potatoes with bite-sized pieces of ham, and asparagus on the side. I'll bake an extra to pass on to our son who has just recently moved out, sharing an apartment with a friend from childhood who recently was saved by the grace of God.

I'm working on the family tree branches of another friend and as a result of some of yesterday's findings, discovered that she's the niece of my neighbours right across from our house ~ prior to this, I had absolutely NO idea they even knew each other!!

Since my Mom returned home, I've been trying to get my physical house in order, cleaned and cleared . . . if you could see what I see, it's a bit of a daunting task but I remind myself to take 1 room at a time and enjoy each step of the way!

After all, I can listen to my favourite music and meditate on what I've enjoyed from Scriptures that morning and speak to my Lord and Saviour while I'm about these tasks and HE can work on my heart, getting my spiritual house more in tune with Him.

I can continuously create a loving atmosphere for those I love . . . what more could I ask for in a job?

Blessings,

The Magic of Ordinary Days

Today was simply beautiful ~ the sun was shining, it was very warm and a lovely breeze enabled everyone to enjoy it all :o)

Our super high temps and humidity are now just a memory!

My mom and I have been enjoying our time together, doing my regular household things as well as a little shopping and baking here and there.

After all, it's not the activity that makes it special, but the time spent together sharing laughter and memories of yesteryear :o)

Neither one of us is getting any younger and it's important not to take anything for granted . . . one never knows what's on the 'morrow.

Blessings to each of us as we appreciate the *magic of ordinary days*!!!

Secret of Happy Home Life

Winter Moon by Bill Saunders

Home is among the holiest of words.

A true home is one of the most sacred of places.

It is a sanctuary into which men flee from the
world's perils and alarms. It is a resting place to
which at close of day the weary retire to gather
new strength for the battle and toils of tomorrow.

It is the place . . .

• where love learns its lessons;
• where life is schooled into discipline and strength;
• where character is molded.

What are some of the secrets of happy home life?

The answer might be given in one word: Christ.

• Christ at the marriage altar;
• Christ on the bridal journey;
• Christ when the new home is set up;
• Christ when the baby is born;
• Christ when a child dies;
• Christ in the pinching times;
• Christ in the days of plenty;
• Christ in the nursery, in the kitchen, in the parlor;
• Christ in the toil and in the rest;
• Christ along all the years.

Christ is the secret of happy home life!

~ JR Miller, also author of Home Making, 1882 ~

Room With a View

I've enjoyed this view from my kitchen sink for many years.

• Memories of 3 little ones starting school and climbing aboard the big yellow school bus.
• Two little brothers playfighting in the yard but always sticking up for each other at other times.
• A little girl having tea parties and playing with her dog or helping plant flowers.
• Taking photos in the front yard of that same little girl for her Senior Prom and Graduation.
  
• Families of deer nibbling at the shrubs in my neighbour's front yard .... sure that they were planted just for them.
• Watching the mailman deposit letters from loved ones in my old-fashioned mailbox at the end of the driveway.
• Waving good-bye as my husband left for various jobs over the years.
• Seeing familiar faces come to call, bringing a smile to my lips and joy to my heart.
• Tears filling my eyes as I have watched loved ones leave our home for the last time, returning to their homes far away and always hoping that one day, we'll be reunited.

Do YOU have a special window with a view that brings back fond memories of days gone by?

Blessings,

Home Comfort

"Housekeeping creates

cleanliness, order, regularity, beauty,
the conditions for health and safety,
and a good place to do and feel
all the things you wish and need
to do and feel in your home."

~ Cheryl Mendelson ~
*HOME COMFORTS*
The Art & Science of Keeping House

Here's my cozy spot for reading, crocheting and listening to my husband play guitar and sing some of his own lyrics :o)

This is where I curled up my feet yesterday afternoon under a warm blanket given to me by dear friends when I was very ill a few years ago. It has a lovely Thomas Kinkade scene woven into it.

In this room, both of us have surrounded ourselves with whatever makes us feel comfortable, cozy and content.

Just behind my chair, you can see part of 1 of my chiming clocks. I have another on a wall across the room and the only time I mind them is when I'm talking on the phone and they shout out the hour at the same moment!

Blessings,

Simple Blessings

I found this teeny-tiny vase many years ago in a Thrift Shop and it is just perfect to hold the few carnations left from the beautiful Christmas floral arrangement that my Mom had sent to us 2 weeks ago. Their lovely fragrance helps to make them one of my favourite flowers!

The small white doily is one that I crocheted last week as a gift for her along with some home baking that she has promised to eat *carefully* because she has diabetes :o)

They both went with my daughter via plane on Tuesday and IF she remembered to put them in the freezer when she arrived home, [the baked goods NOT the doily!!] they should taste fresh when she takes them over to Grandma's house!

Trust each of you are enjoying a splendid winter's day in your little corner of the world,

A Very Blustery Day

3 of these views were from my kitchen window yesterday

while the TOP RIGHT one was from
my side door looking sideways onto
our street's own winter wonderland.

The wind howled all New Year's Day
and the snow continued to not only fall heavily,
but to swirl around
so that there were huge drifts
here, there and everywhere.

All this made clearing the driveway
almost a futile endeavour!
My son did it a couple of times, my husband did it once
and my daughter did it again late last night!

Having done it those few times yesterday
made the job that much easier today :o)

It's a good thing that it was a holiday
because that meant that most people
did NOT have to venture out in the blizzard.

I spent a cozy day inside,
tidying up our spare room, the master bedroom
and browsing through piles
of magazine and genealogy papers
and cutting out what I wanted to keep!

I made ham and scalloped potatoes for supper
which not only warmed the kitchen but our tummies :o)

Because we have our own water pump
which needs electricity to operate,
I filled up the bathtub with cold water
just in case our power went out ... it didn't!
After other years when it did, I knew it was
better to be safe than sorry!

We are going to friends' tonight
where they're having a New Year's Celebration
with more friends, food and a hymn-sing
and I'm really looking forward to it :o)

I took Artichoke Dip to a family gathering last weekend
and it was really enjoyed by everyone
so that's what I'm taking tonight.

Blessings,
ARTICHOKE DIP

• 1 - 10 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and diced
• ½ cup Hellman's mayonnaise
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
• Dash of Worcestershire sauce
• Dash of garlic powder

DIRECTIONS

1 Combine and put into small greased casserole dish.
[I didn't grease it]
2 Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes until bubbly.
3 Serve with thinly sliced baguette or rye bread.

Makes a great dip
for either thinly sliced baguette
or rye bread
or your favourite crackers!

ENJOY :o)

Christmas at our House

Beautiful centerpiece sent by my Mom for Christmas

It has been a rather unusual Christmas at our house this year!

Since my husband works shift work, it was his turn this year to work the night shift on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day :o(

Our daughter was to leave one side of the country at a certain time on Christmas Eve, but because of a huge snowfall and white-out conditions, her plane didn't leave until several hours later!

When she got to her next *stop* to make her connecting flight, it was too late!!

I received a phone call at 3 AM and I could tell from her voice, that she was not only sad but really upset. I finally fell asleep around 4 AM to be awakened by a call letting me know that if she wasn't able to make standby on 1 of 2 early morning flights, that she had a confirmed ticket for Boxing Day :o(

I tried to get a couple more hours sleep and was awakened by the phone 45 minutes later telling me that her name was called for standby for the earlier flight and that she would finally be home! Praise the Lord ...

By the time the two of us arrived home from the airport, her brother had gone back to sleep from waking up early thinking that she had already arrived, her father was sound asleep so he would be rested for work and after a couple of hours of visiting together, my daughter went to sleep for the afternoon!

I should have been extremely tired but the Lord gave me grace to do ALL the preparations for our family's traditional turkey dinner as well as cook it all later and wash up most of the pots and pans used so that we could use that time for more interesting things!

We had a wonderful family time together eating the meal and later exchanging gifts and laughing over memories!

We phoned our son in his far-away home and spoke to our 3 year old grandson for a few minutes but he was too excited to chatter for long ... each of us took turns talking with our son and brother, before we said our good-byes.

My daughter was picked up by her best friend from home and they spent a couple of hours with old friends while my son and I watched Anne of Green Gables: Part One and as you can probably guess, I fell asleep just before the end :o)

Blessings to all,

A Glimpse of My Home

I've had lots of fun creating these 2 mosaics at Big Huge Labs .

Our Living Room

Our Kitchen - Dining area

Dear friends gave us this hand-painted text
for a wedding present
and over the almost 29 years of our married life,
the Lord has proven the truth of this promise to us!


Thanks for sharing this *glimpse* with me :o)

Winter -- A Lingering Season

"WINTER MEMORIES" © Alan Sakhavarz

"Winter, a lingering season,
is a time to gather golden moments,
embark upon a sentimental journey,
and enjoy every idle hour."

~ John Boswell ~