WWU--First Pure, Then Peaceable

Thank you, Mary, for hosting Weekly Wrap-Up!

It's time to reflect back on my week, to store up memories in my heart,

and to acknowledge the Lord's ways in my life.

To participate with us, please click on Mary's button above.

Home Life

What a week.  I have felt a calmness that can come only from the Lord.  I'm amazed that I feel this way, simply because our days are busy, in my opinion.  I've crossed off three or four items from my to-do list, only to write down five or six more.  I think, like my friend Shani, that I need to just buckle down and schedule some of these to-do items, so they actually get done.  Some of them require me to actually go out and do something, or get something--such as Joseph's handicapped state i.d. card (free, but we have to go to the driver's license facility with proper paperwork and identification).  The rest require simply my time.  Time?  What's that?!

Jacob and Danny turned in writing assignments again this week.  I think Danny is getting over his fear of talking in class, and talking to the professor!  He even emailed her to get an "okay" on which historical references he could use in his paper, after she told him that his example of Corrie ten Boom was not well-known enough to be cited in the assigned essay.  I must have read The Hiding Place dozens of times growing up, so I was somewhat taken aback that someone hadn't heard of Corrie.

Danny completed a few chemistry experiments.  The sales rep at the hardware store lectured Danny for several minutes about the dangers of working with lye.  Needless to say, I was nervous as he worked through the experiment.  But everything went without a hitch.

Also this week, I cut everyone's hair.  And I took pictures!  I keep telling my boys to stop looking so handsome, but they don't listen.  Jacob is still full of hair in the photo below, but he still looks good!

Future police officer/detective

My Kitchen and Garden

I'm still picking--my vegetables, that is!  We've enjoyed almost two glorious weeks of summer-like weather, and my tomatoes and green beans have gone crazy.  Plus, all the little green peppers on my plants are getting bigger.  Even though they're not supermarket-sized, they will work for salads, chili, soup...

I also have canning on my radar.  In fact, it's blipping away loudly as I prepare this wrap-up of my week!  Today is canning day--apples, spaghetti sauce, jalapeños, pepperoncinis... (I won't get it all done!)



My Project Desk

Sadly, I haven't completed any projects this week.  Up in my bedroom, my desk sits empty, waiting for me to work on something.  But Fernando says homeschool is priority, and I'm trying to rest in that.


Behind the Lens

This week, I took the plunge and created business cards for christine anne photography.  I wanted a photo to be imprinted on the cards, so I had to experiment.  Most of the photos I've taken aren't suited for writing to be imprinted on them.  I ended up outside for several different shots.  After creating six different cards, Fernando and I both decided on one--yes, the same one!  Here is a photo that didn't work well for a business card, but it's pretty enough for my portfolio.

Heart Thoughts

We've been reading through and studying James during our dinner hour (more like dinner hour-and-a-half!).  Fernando has gone into depth with word studies, which is one of my favorite things to do.  Here is a passage we studied this past week, with word definitions added.

James 3:17 nasb

But the wisdom from above is first

• pure -- characterized by spiritual integrity
• then peaceable -- peace-loving, peace-promoting
• gentle -- characterized by a sweet reasonableness
• reasonable -- showing obedience to God's standards
• full of mercy and good fruits -- quick to forgive, having a concern for others
• unwavering,
• without hypocrisy --consistent and unwavering, undivided in commitment and conviction, doesn't make unfair distinctions

What a list.  It shows me that I have so far to go in seeking the Lord's wisdom instead of instantly using my own frail human wisdom.  God's foolishness is wiser than my greatest wisdom, and most times I can't grasp even His foolishness!  I read verses like these with a hunger to continue to seek after His wisdom, and with a humility that acknowledges that without Him, I am nothing.

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

WWU--Seek Her as Silver

Thank you, Mary, for hosting Weekly Wrap-Up!

It's time to reflect back on my week, to store up memories in my heart,

and to acknowledge the Lord's ways in my life.

To participate with us, please click on Mary's button above.

Home and School

We experienced a busy week this past week--small projects, a greater focus on homeschooling, and general home "management" duties (a..k.a. chores).  Fernando asked Joseph to help out more with chores, and he is willingly working around the house.  Jacob and Danny continue to chug along in their college Rhetoric class.  Thomas continues to check his attitude as he and I work more closely together throughout the week.  Parenthood isn't any easier now, that's for sure.  Someone once told me, "You can't have quality time without quantity time."  And Thomas and I have quantity time in abundance!

It also helps when Thomas gets to play with matches.  Come to think of it, he's really enjoying science this year...

Physical science:  Observation

My Kitchen and Garden

I already posted about my adventures in canning earlier this week, so you can click here to read about it if you wish.  My vegetable garden continues to be the Little Engine That Could!  This week, I've picked another overflowing bowl of tomatoes, plus more green beans and the rest of my basil.

Three raised-bed vegetable gardens

Tomatoes on the vine

Tomatoes, green beans, and basil

My garden-wise friend Becki gave me several cayenne peppers, which are currently drying and will soon be crushed for adding to homemade salsa.

Cayenne peppers redden as they dry

Speaking of spicy, here's a photo of the enchiladas we had for dinner a week ago.

My Project Desk

Fernando was extra thoughtful this week; he not only built me shelves for a couple of kitchen cabinets, but he hung a few things that needed hanging.  He's my hangman!

I found this wrought-iron scroll at a garage sale, and we decided it nicely dressed up the photos of our sons:

Main hallway

Then, he hung this funny sign in our back hallway, which leads to our mud room/pantry/laundry room.  We have had the sign for almost two years!!

Behind the Lens

I've been experimenting with shooting into the sun.  What appears on the finished product is not what I see when I peer through the viewfinder!  Surprises--sunspots and glare--sometimes turn an ordinary scene into something amazing.  Here is an example, with more to be posted on my photography blog later today.

Heart Thoughts

At church, Pastor Fraley has been teaching through the book of Proverbs.  As I look back on all that I've learned--and my compulsive notes all over my Bible pages--one passage stuck out, as a reminder.  I'll quote a little of it here:

My son [daughter], if you will receive my words

And treasure my commandments within you,

Make your ear attentive to wisdom,

Incline your heart to understanding;

For if you cry for discernment,

Lift your voice for understanding;

If you seek her as silver

And search for her as for hidden treasures;

Then you will discern the fear of the LORD

And discover the knowledge of God.

For the LORD gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

Guarding the paths of justice,

And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

Proverbs 2:1-8 nasb with my [insert]

This passage goes on for several additional verses describing the results of seeking God's wisdom.  One aspect of the first verses is that I have to want wisdom.  I have to be intentional and deliberate about it.  Pastor Fraley talked about "seeking her [wisdom] as silver" as a very difficult process.  Isn't gold more valuable?  But silver is normally covered with gray or black material, making it very hard to find.  And once you've found it, the actual refining process is difficult and drawn out.  Such is the path of seeking wisdom.  It requires diligent investigation into God's Word.  It was good to have this reminder to seek Him this week.

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

WWU--Purity of Heart and Other Thoughts

Thank you, Mary, for hosting Weekly Wrap-Up!

It's time to reflect back on my week, to store up memories in my heart,

and to acknowledge the Lord's ways in my life.

To participate with us, please click on Mary's button above.

My Home

When we began our homeschooling year, I thought I was doomed.  But I'm much happier now that our schedule is running smoothly and I know what to expect--generally speaking, of course!  Fernando addressed the issue of chores, which was the only item being neglected the past several weeks.  Using my "Home Management" chart, he assigned a son to each day of the week, and laid down some rules.  Praying this works!


College and Homeschool

Jacob is cruising along at college, and always comes home with stories, mostly of what he has learned in class that particular day.  My head gets stuffed with all sorts of tidbits about psychology, U.S. government, criminal law, and juvenile delinquency.  Whew.

Danny seems to have found a rhythm with his online chemistry class, and he complains much less about going to English Comp class with Jacob.  Even though he does not like it, he is more of a natural writer than Jacob, and the professor likes his work so far.  Jacob has to work harder at it.  They enjoy their time together, both in the classroom and in the car.



My Kitchen and Garden

I have an October garden!  Tomatoes are still ripening on the vine, green beans are still growing, as well as herbs, onions--though small, and jalapeños.  I'm happy.

My Project Desk

No pictures to show you, but I've been slowly working on altering blouses to fit better.  I bought several blouses at Goodwill with my birthday discount, and I need to take in sides a little, and sew on hooks and eyes.  Hopefully I'll post some photos for Tackle-It Tuesday.


Behind the Lens

On my way to the garden this morning to capture some veggie images, I almost stepped on this spider web, still wet with dew.  Mr. Spider quickly went into hiding, but the glistening web called me to take its picture.  So I did.

Heart Thoughts

The thoughts emanating from the Scripture our family is reading during devotions have been weighty.  The Lord has been impressing many things on my heart, but I'll share just one verse from Thursday's devotions.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious,

and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart,

this man's religion is worthless.

James 1:26 nasb

Religious refers to ceremonial public worship--the external trappings without the internal belief.  It is simply superficial pseudo-faith, which reminds me of the verse about whitewashed tombs full of dead men's bones (Matthew 23:27).  Which it should, because James used this word religion to refer to the Pharisees.

The main thought, however, was in regard to bridling one's tongue.  Fernando's commentary said:

Purity of heart is often revealed by controlled and proper speech.

It has made me ponder my manner of speaking, and even the words I use.  Controlled brings to mind the lack of angry outbursts, and the welling up of patience as I respond to others.  Proper connotes the actual words I use--hmm, slang, possibly?  The use of casual phrases or words--good luck (do I really believe in luck?), or even "darn" or "shoot" instead of other--um, colorful--expressions.  Purity of heart--may the Lord cultivate self-control in my speech!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

WWU--Be Still

This is the time to wrap up my week--the goings-on in my home, behind my camera lens, and in my heart--in words and photos.  To find out more, or to join, please visit CanadaGirl's blog.  You can also click on her button at the end of this post.

Tuesday's robin

My Home

I've just been trying to keep the house generally clean and my spirit calm this past week.  Fernando says--and I've said this before--that homeschooling is my #1 priority.  But I need to figure out how to balance everything else, or there will be no clean clothes, and no dinner on the table.

Our anniversary was on Sunday, a wonderful day to have an anniversary on!  Celebration--part of which will be a surprise to Fernando--to come tomorrow afternoon!!


Homeschool and College

We're still trying to sort out schedules and get into a smoothly flowing routine.  Jacob missed most of his late-start Psych class which started on Tuesday, because he thought it started next week.  Then, he somehow thought his 7:30am Thursday class started at 8:30am.  After double-checking his schedule, he grabbed a nectarine for breakfast and tore on out the door.

Danny had his first on-line chemistry class.  It was strange to hear voices--especially girls' voices--emanating from the basement throughout the late Wednesday morning hours.  I'm still not used to this whole internet/headphone/voice online class thing.  Good grief, I used to get up and walk across the room to change the TV channel!

Thomas and I are getting along famously in school.  He is pretty much keeping me on track.  He won't leave me alone.  I can't blog when I want to.  (This is a good thing.)

Experiment in physical science

My Kitchen and Garden

I picked several more tomatoes this week--yay!  And there are lots of jalapeños still growing; I'm leaving them there until I'm ready to try making green tomato salsa.  Since this weekend is packed, hopefully I'll be able to grab a few hours one day next week.

I was able to snag some time on Friday to (finally) bake some bread.  Hopefully the eight loaves will last through next week...

Double-long loaf of whole-wheat bread

The Lord blessed me with a suribachi!!  It is a Japanese mortar and pestle, unique in that the inside of the unglazed bowl has a ridged pattern helpful in mashing garlic and herbs.  I had read about them, then researched a little, and by God's grace, found this one for only $10.

My new suribachi

Am I the only one who thinks a birthday salad is great??  I used farmer's market lettuce, and tomatoes, green pepper, carrots, and onions from my garden.  I topped it all with homemade creamy garlic herb dressing, and my tummy sang "happy birthday to me!"

Stick a candle in it!!

My Project Desk

On Friday I wore a French blue blouse which I bought at Goodwill.  This week I sewed hooks/eyes on to prevent gapping, and I took in the sides so I look like I have shape.  Because I'm broad-shouldered and, um, blessed up top, I need larger blouses.  But then they look like tents on my waist!  So I developed and cut out a template, which I used to take in the sides so it flares out a bit at the bottom and gives me shape.  Photos to come later, I hope.  :)

I also made a wedding card (and a bookmark) for Tim & Evy's wedding this afternoon.  I took apart their wedding invitation and used several pieces to make it.  The pocket which holds the pull-out "card" is a section of the invitation.

Tim & Evy's wedding card

Behind the Lens

I'm sooo happy to have my camera back.  I took so many pictures last week!  It was great to be able to take Ellie to downtown Chicago on Sunday to capture Elliot's baptism and some artistic photos at 12th Street Beach.  Besides Sunday, I've been taking pictures all week, of anything and everything!  I'm also trying to capture images specifically for my blog.  Any excuse to use the camera!  Here is my favorite photo from downtown at Lake Michigan.

Grace in motion

My Nightstand

In all the busy-ness of this week, in all the driving around seemingly for no purpose, in all the frustration of mounting laundry and what's-for-dinner, the Lord desires that I stop, and still my heart, and focus on Him.

"Cease striving and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

The LORD of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Psalm 46:10-11 nasb (emphasis mine)

CanadaGirl is the lovely hostess for our Weekly Wrap-Up.  Please click on her linky button below to visit her blog, to read more, and to participate.

Thanks for stopping by!  Now it's time to get ready to go to a wedding!!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

FFG > Cinnamon Cottage Cheese Muffins

To find out about Friday Farm Girls @ Heart, just click on the button to the right to visit Lori's blog and to read what it's all about!

This morning, I wasn't planning on making breakfast.  Due to sewing a quick fix for a blouse, I didn't get downstairs until almost 9am.  Jacob was getting set to leave for college, Thomas was working on an algebra quiz, Joseph was toasting some bread, and Danny was munching out of the fridge.

So when I half-heartedly asked, "Does anyone want me to make breakfast?"  I didn't expect a positive response.  But positive it was, and they agreed on muffins.  I figured if they helped, we could have muffins in the oven in a jiffy.  I grabbed my cookbook to start preparing a recent new favorite--Maple Crumb Muffins--then realized I didn't have enough sour cream.  We had cottage cheese instead.  Hmm.

Let me just say that the internet can be a wonderful thing!  I found a recipe, and altered it a tad for fresh whole wheat flour and for our love of cinnamon.  I licked the bowl scraper, and just knew I had a winner.  I share it with you here!  And of course, you already know I won't have pictures until--Lord willing--TOMORROW!  (Can you tell I'm just a bit excited??)

Cinnamon Cottage Cheese Muffins

1 1/2 C flour (I used whole-wheat, and used slightly more)
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/4 C softened butter
3/4 C sugar (I use cane juice crystals)
1 egg
1 C cottage cheese
1/4 C milk

In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  In a larger bowl, cream together the butter and sugar.  Add egg and mix well.  Add cottage cheese and milk and mix well.  Stir in dry ingredients until moistened.  Pour into paper-lined 12-muffin muffin tin.  I sprinkled a little cinnamon/sugar over the tops.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes.  Remove to wire rack to cool.

Since I can't bear to leave without a photo, here's one from my spring garden.

...The grass withers, the flower fades,

But the word of our God stands forever.

Isaiah 40:8 nasb

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Weekly Wrap-Up with Canadagirl

I've enjoyed participating in the Weekly Wrap-Up; if you're interested, click on the link above to find out details!

My Home
Things are getting organized!  If I ever visit your home, tell me we're going to spend the afternoon organizing your _____, and I'll be thrilled.  This week, I participated with my friend Helen in a "project accountability" work evening (details on next week's Tackle-It Tuesday), and de-cluttered my homeschool cubby-hole cabinets in the basement.  I got rid of two overflowing boxes of books and supplies we no longer need or want.  I organized everything else, and now feel like a little piece of life is simpler and calmer.

Homeschool and College
After agonizing over almost every word in his English Comp essay, Danny put the finishing touches on and brought it to class, accompanied by Jacob.  Though he's very unsure of himself, I'm sure that he will do just fine in this class.  I'm so thankful that he's able to take it with his older brother.  What a protection and a blessing!

Thomas and I are slowly getting into a groove with schooling together.  At 14, he is a fascinating young man and it's exciting, frustrating, bewildering, and amazing to get to spend so much one-on-one time with this blessing from the Lord!

My Kitchen and Garden
I tried a new recipe this week, and will have to fiddle with ingredient amounts.  Even though they were a little dry, the maple-crumb muffins were yummy and very easy to make.

I've been so tired this week with a cold--though I've had no other symptoms--that I've not stepped into my garden too often.  Part of this afternoon is dedicated to that task.  I'm happy it's so cool outside now!!  My tomatoes have slowed way down, but I still have pole beans and will also probably pick some beets and a few carrots.

No canning this week, either, but Fernando and I stopped at the library this morning, and they had a display of canning/preserving books!  One caught my eye--Ball's Complete Book of Canning and Preserving.  It's one I've wanted for a few years.  At least I'll have this one for three weeks and a renewal!  There's a recipe for a green-tomato salsa I found that I'd like to try.  I'll let you know how that goes.

My Project Desk
Still haven't made that wedding card, but I completed a few sewing tasks.  Since July, I've been altering blouses to fit my unique shape, by finding larger blouses to fit me in the shoulders, then taking the sides in so they flare out at the bottom to give my straight waist some shape.  I've also added hooks/eyes for those immodest gaps between the buttons--do manufacturers make them gap in those particular areas on purpose???

Behind the Lens
I finally heard from the repair shop, which has kept my camera beyond three weeks now.  They have promised to overnight it to me for free once it is finished some time next week.  I plan on sending them daily reminders, since our anniversary is next weekend!! and I have something special planned for which I need my camera.  So I wait.  Meanwhile, here is a photo from my front-porch garden this past spring.

Siberian bugloss, brunnera, with purple buds.

My Nightstand
I'll be thumbing through the Ball canning book this next week, and also a book called The Art of Simple Food, by Alice Waters.  She is a passionate proponent of seasonal, local, sustainably produced foods, and breaks her book into 19 culinary lessons with everyday recipes.  I think some of the recipes are a little exotic, but there are some great, simple ideas and recipes I'd like to try.  Because of this book, I'm planning on purchasing a suribachi, a Japanese mortar and pestle with ridges in the bowl, which help when mashing garlic, herbs, and other things.  I think it will be a wonderful addition to my kitchen.

In my favorite book, we've been memorizing Proverbs 9:8-9:

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,

Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,

Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

NASB

Pastor Fraley will be preaching on this chapter tomorrow at church.  As we've recited this verse over and over throughout the week, I'm struck by the earnest desire to learn from His reproof, to submit to His correction, to be quick to listen to the Holy Spirit's chastisement, especially in the little areas.  I hear myself making snippy comments to my husband, or correcting him, when I should keep my mouth shut.  (I call it my "spiritual duct tape.")  I need to be so careful to heed His nudges!!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Friday Farm Girls at Heart--My Life, The Lord's Garden

At the end of summer, my thoughts run toward the vegetable gardens in my backyard.  Harvesting, canning, munching freshly pulled carrots.  But curiously, my thoughts are also turning to my flower gardens, much of which have been neglected this summer.

My front porch garden

Several years ago, after I had had surgery and was having a hard time recuperating, a dear friend almost single-handedly dug out my front porch garden (above).  She mapped out a color plan, then accompanied me to the nursery to pick out flowers.  Then she helped me plant.

Since then, my garden has grown, becoming a jungle at one point.  I have divided plants and transplanted others to different parts of my yard, and still it keeps growing.  This spring, I purchased a macro lens for my camera, and trotted out to my front porch garden to see its close-up version.

My eyes were amazed!  Leaf edges, raindrops, bugs, individual unopened buds.  Little things I never paid attention to, or even could pay attention to because they were so small.

My garden is a picture of what the Lord is doing in my life.  Sometimes, I fight against the little things, not realizing that God has a bigger plan that I don't yet see.  And sometimes, I'm concentrating so single-mindedly on the big-picture vision He has for me, that I don't see the beautiful details He is weaving into my life.

Each individual bud, each individual flower, woven into one beautiful garden.  God the Designer, the Planter, the Transplanter, the Grower, the Harvester.

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Weekly Wrap Up with Canadagirl

Yay!  I'm participating this week!  I'm a beginner in the blogging world, but thanks to my blog angel my blog is really my blog.  I know she understands; I hope you do, too!  It has been a busy, upside-down week.  As I sit here in front of the fan trying to refuse to think about turning the a/c back on, I'll wrap things up.  :)

In my Home
Daily cleaning, laundry, cooking, etc. are all running smoothly, thanks to the help of my young men.  They've been great about grabbing the dry laundry and folding, sorting, and distributing it all.  It's nice to walk back to the task room (my pantry/laundry/mud room) and see mostly empty baskets.  Due to my compulsion to get things done, it's nice to check these chores off my list for the week.  I've accomplished something!  :)

Joe has come down with a nasty cold, and I think Danny and Thomas are next.  Joe is doing better today, but the others still have a few hard days first.  I feel so bad for them, while at the same time praying that I don't get sick!

In my Homeschool/College
Jacob is enjoying all his classes at the community college, which began this past week.  It helps that Danny is taking Rhetoric with him.  Their teacher is rather free-spirited, and doesn't care about grammar, which of course is both good and bad.  Danny has declared that she's weird, because she showed off her new tattoo (don't worry; it was only the already-exposed shoulder), and used "colorful metaphors" (Danny's words).

Thomas and I have worked together a bit this week, easing into full-time academic work next week.  My little guy is already 14 and doing all high-school level work now, which is practically incomprehensible to me.  We've already had some good times together, and even enjoyed a walk together to the bank then the grocery store.  He was in a chatty mood.  It was fun.  'Nuff said.

In my Kitchen & Garden
I picked lots of tomatoes this week, but as I've noticed white flies here and there, I don't think I'll have too many more.  Yesterday I had a pot of tomato sauce simmering on the stove, and it went into the freezer.  The beets are actually growing--I left them in since they sat like lumps all summer.  I'll check on them in the next few weeks.  I also picked a few carrots; they were slim but not too terribly bad.  I'll let them grow some more, especially as we're supposed to have more hot weather in the next several days.

Next year I've decided to limit my three raised-bed gardens to just a few different veggies, instead of a little of everything.  It was fun to try new things, but I need a year of sticking to the basics.

I tried from memory a mostly-veggie pizza with great success, from a recipe I had lost.  You basically shred zucchini, add an egg and some Italian spices, pour it into an edged pizza pan that has been liberally sprinkled with cornmeal, and bake it for 10-15 minutes.  Then you remove it and add your normal pizza toppings; I added sauteed onions, olives, chopped green pepper, and Italian sausage from the farmer's market.  Top with sauce and cheese, and back in the oven.  It turned out fantastic.  One piece is left in the fridge, for me!  :)

At my Project Desk
I'm not a needlecraft person, and haven't really completed any other projects this week.  I did make an engagement card for the daughter of a church friend last week.  In the next few weeks I have to make a wedding card for the same young lady.  I hope to use the tissue-paper flowers she had included in her wedding invitation, as well as some of the invitation paper.  We'll see how that goes.  I always agonize over the design!

On my Nightstand
My Bible is usually the only book on my nightstand, and I've enjoyed reading through Galatians with my husband every morning at 7am.  It's a nice way to wake up--together, talk, read the Word, pray, talk some more.  I'm thankful that he has to drive only four miles to work; we usually have time to be leisurely every morning!  This week, I've expressed thanks to the Lord for not having to be under the Law.  A few verses that have stuck out:

"For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."

Galatians 3:27

"And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise."

Galatians 3:29

I've had the sense that the Lord is leading me in a different direction this year.  Just in the last three weeks, He has removed most of my tutoring jobs through one circumstance or another.  No Spanish class, no French class.  No new flute students.  And of my returning flute students, two sisters will come every once in a while, and the other one will be here every other week.  I've gone from teaching every day except Wednesday to teaching Tuesdays and Thursdays, and that only every few weeks!

My husband commented, "Y'know, the Lord gave you all that tutoring business last year, which enabled you to buy all your camera equipment.  He might be leading you in that direction."

Now, when my husband says something like that to me, I usually perk up.  Fernando is so good about keeping the extraneous out of my life, whereas I am the one who wants to say "yes" to everything.  God has given me a good protector!  So when Fernando came out with that statement, I filed it.  I'm now waiting to see what God will do in the photography department!

Typical Thomas.  It looks gross, but it's just a giant pink marshmallow.

Another benefit to "no tutoring" is that I get to spend lots of time with Thomas, who is just entering high school.  We are going to be spending lots of time together, one-on-one, and we've never had that much before.  He is such a people person, and has always stuck his elbow in on everything his three older brothers are doing.  Now he gets me all to himself.  And I get lots of him.  Thomas is my most fascinating son, in that he is always busy, and loves to laugh.  He has a quick mind, and isn't afraid to use it.  We butt heads a lot, since we're opposite in personality.  It will be interesting, and challenging, but I know the Lord has worked out my circumstances for the good of our relationship.  What a great year it will be to establish a solid one-on-one relationship with my "little guy!"  I'm looking forward to treasuring up chests-ful of memories.  :)

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Tomato Time

It's a day of tomatoes.  Besides picking three bowls of them, we just finished skinning and chopping 10 quarts.  I know it's not a fantastic amount, but to have any amount is just fine with me.  And the tomatoes are one of the few veggies that are proliferating in my garden.

So, I'm taking a break and going to the store to get some onions and a few green peppers, neither of which are doing much in my garden.  Salsa-making, and hopefully canning, await us this afternoon.

Back to life,
Christine
who is thanking the Lord for helpful teenage sons  :)

A Sweet and Savory Morning

Due to my diligence (by God's grace), I had partially prepared my granola recipe and was ready to mix it up this morning.  After my plain cinnamon granola (Danny likes it that way) was in the oven, I realized I had used olive oil instead of coconut oil in the recipe.  Grr.  Just a little difference in taste, but I'm a perfectionist.

So I went ahead and created a brand new gourmet granola recipe, adding coconut flakes and pepitas (pumpkin seeds) that I had bought from Becki's co-op.  I borrowed a few ideas from others' recipes, and I have to say, the end result was the best-tasting granola I've ever made!  Now I must write my new recipe down and include it in my special cookbook (that is the subject of a future post!).

Then, since I had harvested the basil and parsley from my garden this morning, I prepared those and chopped them up for the freezer.  The herbs are a lot of work--picking leaves off of stems is tedious--but once the jars of chopped herbs are in the freezer, I experience a wonderful sense of satisfaction, plus thankfulness that the Lord, once again, has provided for my family.

Now it's back to preparing for vacation.  :)