On Hiatus

Hi!

Yes, I'm still alive.

*smile*

My apologies for the lack of posting.

Honestly, I'm really trying hard to be careful of

where all the minutes of my day are going -

what they are being used for -

and I've been convicted of excess time spent

on the computer when I could/should be

spending it elsewhere.

We're all given the same number of minutes in our days

and I fear that I haven't always been wise in

how I use my allotment.

So, while I've been silent here,

I have been keeping busy with things that will bless

and benefit my family...

and purposefully MAKING myself slow down and

trying to listen - straining to hear His still, small voice

above the riot of noise that so easily fills my days.

Simplicity.

I'm doing the best I can where I am

and I look forward to the day when I can

"unplug" even more -

and just listen...

So my hiatus will continue until...

well, I don't know when.

In the meantime, if you'd like some great reading,

I'd encourage you to visit any on of the blogs I follow

(posted in my sidebar down on the right).

They're all great reading and while I

won't be posting regularly here for a while,

I will definitely continue to be inspired by my favorite
"girls"!

Genuinely trying to slow down and simplify,

Sarah

Thankful Thursday

Once again, it's been *forever* since I last posted.

And I'm missing it, so here goes!
*smile*

Today is Thankful Thursday.

Here are just five of the many things I'm SO thankful for!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For sweet friends who bless me with their

years of learning and are willing to help

me find my way in new adventures!

(thanks, Tari, for your patient answers to my

gazillion questions about composting,

gardening, chickens, etc!)

For children who keep me on my toes-

(and sometimes run me into the ground) -

so that I can learn to lean more heavily on my Saviour.

My sweet, sweet husband who richly blesses me

every single day.

These crazy MN "spring" winds testifying that indeed,

Spring is just around the corner!

*smile*

The simplicity of a day spent "unplugged".

You know, no TV, no radio, no unecessary *stuff*

that can divert our attention from the things of

real living - the thing that really matter.

A Quick Share...

Ok, so I know it's been a while since I last posted,

so I just wanted to stop by quick and say,

"I'm still here!"

*smile*

So I made another batch of homemade yogurt

(the recipe to be found here)

a couple days ago and I'm going to have

to make yet another batch today!

My kids (ok, me too)

are loving it!

It's such a great, healthy dessert or snack

and my kids inhale it!

They like theirs with homemade

strawberry jam swirled in.

I like mine with chopped walnuts or pecans,

chopped dried cherries or cranberries

and a drizzle of local, raw, unfiltered honey on it!

YUM!
Makes me want some right now...

Also wanted to share with you that I had an

amazing lunch today, thanks to Mama Hollioni!

Her recipe is soooooo delicious!

My favorite part is that is uses 8

Yes, EIGHT

cloves of garlic!!!!!

I am a garlic fiend, so that's right up my alley.

*smile*

Anyway, that's all for today!

Short and sweet!

Until next time....

Sharing Spurgeon

It's a Spurgeon day.

*smile*

This reading was actually from a couple of

mornings ago, but it's so good I wanted to share with you.

I hope it blesses your heart as it did mine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Your heavenly Father." Matthew 6:26

God's people are doubly his children,

they are his offspring by creation,

and they are his sons by adoption in Christ.

Hence they are privileged to call him,

"Our Father which art in heaven."

Father!

Oh, what precious word is that.

Here is authority:

"If I be a Father, where is mine honour?"

If ye be sons, where is your obedience?

Here is affection mingled with authority;

an authority which does not provoke rebellion;

an obedience demanded

which is most cheerfully rendered-

which would not be withheld even if it might.

The obedience which God's children yield to him

must be loving obedience.

Do not go about the service of God

as slaves to their taskmaster's toil,

but run in the way of his commands

because it is your Father's way.

Yield your bodies as instruments of righteousness,
because righteousness is your Father's will,

and his will should be the will of his child.

Father!

Here is a kingly attribute so sweetly veiled in love,

that the King's crown is forgotten in the King's face,

and his sceptre becomes, not a rod of iron,

but a silver sceptre of mercy-

the sceptre indeed seems to be forgotten

in the tender hand of him who wields it.

Father!

Here is honour and love.

How great is a Father's love to his children!

That which friendship cannot do,

and mere benevolence will not attempt,

a father's heart and hand must do for his sons.

They are his offspring, he must bless them;

they are his children,

he must show himself strong in their defence.

If an earthly father watches over his children

with unceasing love and care,

how much more does our heavenly Father?

Abba, Father!

He who can say this, hath uttered better music

than cherubim or seraphim can reach.

There is heaven in the depth of that word-

Father!

There is all I can ask;

all my necessities can demand;
all my wishes can desire.

I have all in all

to all eternity when I can say,

"Father."

Daybook Entry

FOR TODAY...

Outside My Window...

the clouds overshadow the day

and several Red-breasted Nuthatches

and Chickadees dine on the sunflower seeds

in the pinecone birdfeeders

the boys and I madea couple weekends ago.

I am thinking...

"is it the kids' nap time yet?"

I am thankful for...

our Christian school that our church runs -

we decided today that my oldest nephew is in need

of more structure if he's going to be ready

for kindergarten this Fall.

From the learning rooms...

we are almost finished with our first math workbook,

only a couple pages left in handwriting,

and are currently reading:
Egermeier's Children's Bible Storybook

The Llama Who Had No Pajama

(for fun)

The Story of Dr. Doolittle

(and no, I'm going to run upstairs

to check if I spelled that right)

Elmer and the Dragon

(Cade's favorite)

and as always....

a whole PILE of library books!

Yep. We kind of like reading

in our house! :o)

From the kitchen...

I've got bread rising in the oven - I bet it's about to overflow -

I should go check on that.

I am wearing...

crazy striped socks, burgundy fluffy slippers,

favorite gray jeans, and a sky blue camisole

underneath a grass green fleece.

I am creating...

almost done with scarf

(same one as last week)

more dishcloths,

still working on my knitted handbag

and would love to get some #7 knitting needles

so I could try to knit myself some mittens!

We'll see about that...

*smile*

I am going...

to a friends house for coffee night / crafting night.

Hello, uninterrupted knitting time!

Yay!

I am reading...

through the gospel of Matthew,

still in the Psalms,

and of course my favorite -

Spurgeon's Morning and Evening.

Oh, and also reading The Love Dare

that a friend lent me.

I'm excited to see what is all in there!

I am hoping...

that my oldest nephew will be a good boy in preschool

(which he starts this week).

Pray with me on this one, won't you?!

I am hearing...

my niece bossing the boys around

*sigh*

what is it about girls????

They think they rule the roost!

I've got news for Sweet Thing.......

Around the house...

I really need to vacuum,

of course, the usual laundry

and baking bread and trying to decide what to

make for supper tonight.

One of my favorite things...

sitting and enjoying long talks with my Mom.

My Mom is one of my best friends and I adore her.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

#1) try not to lose my mind

#2) try to implement Pastor's message on

being quick to listen, slow to speak...you know the rest.

*smile*

#3) make it to the gym at least 3 times

#4) enjoy a date night with my sweet husband while

a friend takes on the challenge of watching our 5 kids

for a couple hours. Bless her heart.

#5) I'm going to stop now or I'll overwhelm myself

with my own expectations. :o)

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Such FUN!

I've been on kind of a "making everything homemade"

kick lately and today will be no different.

Over the past week,

I've made lots of fun new things!

Let's see....

Three batches of homemade soap

(which are now curing for the next 4 weeks -

I hate waiting so long before being able to use it!

I'm tempted to try making hot-process soap

one of these times!),

Lainie's dishwasher detergent,

Herbal organic shampoo

(which I adore!

It does double-duty as a body wash, too!),

all-natural toothpaste

(again, delightful!),

a fabulous Banana Facial Mask

(wow!),

Note: Youtube has tons, I mean TONS of great

make-it-yourself recipes!!

have almost finished a scarf for a friend,

and have made several knitted dish rags.

Oh my!!!!

I've had SOOOO much fun creating useful things!

How I enjoy the creative endeavors God gives us to enjoy!

He is so good, is He not?!

*smile*

Oh, and today I'm making a double batch of

Mama Hollioni's Amish White Bread

for my family.

Now, if I can just keep MY hands off it

and not eat any - well, it will be a miracle!

Yep. I've been trying to cut out

bread, sugar and cut back on salt in an

effort to lose a few pounds.

But with fresh bread in the house,

I can make no promises!

Ha ha!

But I digress...

Ok, off I go to start the bread!

Have a blessed day!

Hmmmm...

Ok, well, we got our nephews and niece back

Monday afternoon and as you can see,

we've been busy getting back into the swing of things.

Can I just say that I'm so thankful for my sweet husband

who just went to the grocery store for me?

This late at night, too!

(It's almost 10:00 pm here)

I am so blessed by him.

I've not yet attempted to go grocery shopping

(or any kind of shopping, for that matter)

being outnumber 5:1.

I doubt that I'll ever attempt that feat.

Anyway...

I just wanted to check in and let you

know that I'll try to get back into a routine

with posting here.

I've found myself writing

(you know, actual pencil-on-paper writing)

more in my journal lately

and it's been good.

Anyway...

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Wishing you His richest blessings,

Sarah