Developing into a Fine Young Man...

  

        Kimba has decided he needs to improve his cooking skills. For an unknown reason, he is talking and thinking of his "future wife," and has made it his goal to develop himself now so that he will not be a burden to her! (Could it be that his Mother complained a bit too much about his Father's lack of housekeeping skills??)  
Well, the Lord has decided to use it for good, even if the deceiver meant it for evil and discouragement! He has been focused on breakfast and dessert items, but with the spring coming on, he wants to cook more dinners, and "by himself."   

        Well, get in here I say!   He found a recipe out of one of his kid magazines:  First up, a healthy version of "chicken nuggets."    (So simple, just chicken tenderloins dipped in buttermilk and then into bread crumbs seasoned with a bit of Salt &Pepper).    I think next time I will suggest adding a bit of cayenne-- because he did put the hot sauce on the table last night for dipping.  Yummy!

'Twas the week before Thanksgiving...

and all through the house, the creatures were stirring, and dusting, and baking up a storm!

Snickerdoodles

I mix up a batch, split it in half, and bake half.  The
other half is made into balls and
double bagged, then popped
into the freezer for December...
Great for unexpected guests, just take out and Bake!

"This is a delicious evening,

when the whole body is one sense,

and inbibes delight through every pore.

 I go and come with as strange liberty in Nature,

a part of herself."

--Henry David Thoreau

"Is it lack of imagination

that makes us seek out imagined places,

not just stay at home?"

        - Elizabeth Bishop

 (1911-1979,in "Questions of Travel")

Investments of a different kind...

 

When we first started to pursue parenthood, a very wise, "mature" friend advised Mike and I to make our priority to "Start with the End in Mind" when it came to our Childrearing Practices.   Happily, we have done just this, and have offered our son many Lessons:  Important Investments of time and information.  This week is no exception.  For a reason not known to me, 'B' has an unquenchable interest in Slavery, and in the Civil Rights movement currently.  We went to the Public Library, borrowing and devouring the following:

Rosa Park's Story told from the voice a young boy on the bus.

Another captivating story about the truth which occurred at Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina

Even I cannot image a world that forbids swimming in the same pool together, what was the point?

Even in revisiting these issues myself, it is my joy to observe our wonderful lad, to actually watch his face and see his eyes as he learns about the good and the bad in our Country's History. I love that I am here with him as he discovers some of these issues.  I love how we can talk about how the LORD allowed these inequities, just as HE allowed other unfair events in the Biblical times.  I trust we are building a Foundation upon which future Terrors and Happenings will be filtered through the Colander of past events (hashed and re-hashed in our home as our  family discusses such occurrences).  If you are reading this and are a Mother, don't settle for less.   Don't spend endless hours on your cell phone, or online.  Go get some good material and EXPLORE!  SHARE.  TALK.  Argue if necessary.  Just do it.  You will never regret the investment.


 I cherish these times.
  I pray that they will last long after the boy can fit on my lap

The New Blog at Blue Willow

Our New Blog is under Construction at Wordpress. 

BlueWillowCottage.Wordpress.com

We love a good sermon!

"God never sends His servants on a fool's errand. It pleases God by the foolishness of preaching to accomplish His divine purpose, not because of the power of preaching, nor the power of the preacher, nor any power in those preached to, but because 'all power' is given unto Christ 'in heaven and earth,' and He chooses to work by the teaching of the Word."
~C.H. Spurgeon~

Our Preacher making cards for the friends

at the Golden Living Nursing Home

Guest Post by Barbara Rainey of Family Life Today

 I have often prayed, “Help my unbelief,” over the decades of my faith.  Far too often I have believed my unworthiness greater than His perfect love delighting in me.  Is that true of you too?

Like a photographer with his eye behind the lens of his camera, so we have the power to choose where we focus our vision.  Every day we are aware of our failures, our flaws, our frailties, but in those moments of self-awareness we can change the attention of our heart from self’s shortcomings to Christ’s grace.  Zoom in on the truth that we are fully loved because of the cross, and allow the lies of unworthiness to recede.

What God desires is for us to be so captivated by His love that we live like a newly-engaged couple, overjoyed with the delight of being chosen, who think about each other almost every waking moment.  Yet the Father’s love toward us is far better, for the attention of Eternal Love never ceases.

 

 

 

May we live today more like the name He has given us, His bride!

 

 

 

 

The post Captivated by Eternal Love appeared first on Ever Thine Home.

the Secret

The secret of life isn't what happens to you,
But what you do with what happens to you."
Norman Vincent Peale