With Enormous Sadness

According to this Flag Site the following rules apply to flying our Nation's flag:

When is it permitted to half-staff the U.S. flag?

Only the president of the United States or the governor of the state may order the flag to be at half-staff to honor the death of a national or state figure. Unfortunately, many city, business and organization leaders are half-staffing the flag upon the death of an employee or member. Instead, it is suggested to half-staff (if on a separate pole) the city, business or organizational flag. The federal flag code does not prohibit this type of half-staffing.
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While visiting a friend (Jane) yesterday at her home, I asked her why their flag was at half-staff, I couldn't think of any recent death of a national or state figure.

She smiled and told me that her husband said, (paraphrased on my part here), 'If our President can order our national flag lowered for foreign citizens (and our own citizens) killed in a foreign tsunami, then he wanted their flag lowered for all the babies/citizens that are aborted/killed in our country every day.

President Bush said he and his fellow Americans "join the rest of the world in feeling enormous sadness" over the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.

Yes, all of the deaths were sad, no matter what nationality they were. Yes, we did grieve, but do we grieve for those unborn babies in our own land that are aborted/killed DAILY, that have no means of escape?

Let us all have enormous sadness (in the words of President Bush) over the thousands of babies that are killed in our own country each day.

Malachi 4
And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction."

Isiah 5
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
and shrewd in their own sight!

A Masterpiece

I think this portrait is a masterpiece, right up there with The Sistine Chapel or a Rembrandt. What a BEAUTIFUL picture of a family trusting God. What lessons of serving this family must learn. What laughter they must have every day!

May God the Father, the One who said:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5

be glorified!

Amy is offering MORE free books! Enter to win! Contest ends TODAY at midnight!

I was so convicted while reading to our daughters last night from Biblical Womanhood in the Home.

In the chapter on Femininity she ask:

Wives, in light of the Lord’s instruction to us, we have to ask ourselves
the hard questions on a regular basis: Do I care for my home in
a way that helps my husband or serves me? Do I manage my time in
a manner that assists my husband or serves my own agenda? Does the
way I serve others support my husband or promote me? Do I ask for
my husband’s input before committing myself to a plan? Am I oriented
to him and the work to which God has called him? We honor
the Lord when we minister to our husbands in ways that enhance our
God-given roles as companions and helpers.

I know so often I only submit if "I" really want to...if it doesn't inconvenience me. So I repent and Press On!

The Lord has given me 2 beautiful daughters, and I do believe strongly that they are to be ladies and feminine. We are also at a season of life where our daughters have to help their Dad quite a bit. Because he is in construction I have had doubts that we are doing them 'justice' to have them doing 'man's work' so much. But as I read this chapter last night it was a reminder that I am my husband's helper, and that we need to teach our girls (and son who is working out of town), to put Dad's needs first. Hopefully when they marry they will be able and WILLING to do whatever needs to be done for their husband, without whining about 'their wants'.

Not only are they learning to be ladies, skilled in the areas of homemaking, gardening, etc... but they will be able to help their husband build things and work on cars if the need arises. I think we need to be careful not to get caught up in the stereotype of a 'lady' that is wimpy and delicate. When reading the Proverbs 31 woman, she was skilled and educated at many things, all to benefit her husband and home, with the fear of the Lord. I think being a lady is more about attitude than it is action.

Dad handing Olivia a piece of sheetrock up the steps.

Olivia handing Emma the sheet.

Dad pushing the weight of the sheet while the girls (ladies) guide it!

Just imagine what we could do if we had a house full of BOYS!!! We love our ladies though!
Where am I? Recovering from surgery! :o) No lifting for me for a while...shucks!

Gifts in a Jar
***
Spiced Tea Mix

1 (18 ounce) jar orange breakfast beverage crystals
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup red cinnamon candies
1/3 cup instant tea mix
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves

Combine all ingredients; store in an airtight container.

To serve, stir 1 1/2 tablespoons of mix into 1 cup hot water, stirring until candies dissolve. Yield: 5 cups (Makes about 1 1/2 quart, dry)

Keep the spiced tea mix on the kitchen counter in a decorative jar accented with a holiday ribbon. When company drops by, put the kettle on to boil, and set a tray with tea cups, lacy napkins, and cookies.

***

Cappuccino Mix in a Jar
Makes two 12-ounce jars.

1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
1 cup powdered chocolate drink mix
2/3 cup instant coffee granules
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Have ready 2 (12-ounce) canning jars. Put the instant coffee into a food processor, and process to a fine powder. If you don't have a food processor, put it into a large plastic bag, and crush with a rolling pin.

In a large bowl, combine creamer, chocolate mix, instant coffee, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir together until well mixed. Spoon into the jars.

Attach a note to each jar:

Cappuccino

Mix 3 tablespoons of powder with 6 fluid ounces hot water.

Makes 16 servings

***

Rainbow Soup Mix

¾ c small red kidney beans
¾ c great northern beans
¾ c green split peas
¾ c lentils
¾ c dry black beans
2 tsp. dried onion
2 tsp. beef bouillon granules
2 tsp. parsley flakes
2 tsp. dried basil leaves
1 ½ tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves

Filling the jar:

Layer the beans in a quart-canning jar in the order listed. Place seasonings in a non-resealable sandwich bag, tie a knot at the top and place at the top of the jar.

Attach recipe to jar:

Rainbow Bean Soup

1 five bean soup mix
8 cups water
1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
desired vegetables
1 seasoning packet

Remove seasoning packet; set aside. Rinse beans. Place beans in large microwave safe dish, cover with water 1-2 inches over top of beans and cover dish loosely with plastic wrap. Microwave on high 15 minutes, rotating after 6 minutes. Drain and rinse beans well.

Place beans in a large pot. Add 8 cups water, crushed tomatoes, desired vegetables and seasoning packet. Bring to a boil over high heat. Lower heat, cover and simmer 1-1/2 hours or until beans and vegetables are tender. Stir occasionally. Add ham if desired.

***

Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Jar

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chocolate morsels
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
chopped pecans (optional) (But place somewhere in middle of jar if using.)

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Place flour mixture in 1-quart jar. Layer remaining ingredients in order listed above, pressing firmly after each layer.

RECIPE TO ATTACH:

Beat 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) softened butter or margarine, 1 large egg and 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until blended. Add cookie mix and 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional); mix well, breaking up any clumps. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake in preheated 375° F. oven for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Whole Wheat Pancakes in a Jar

Layer ingredients in the following order in quart-sized jar:

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 Tbls. baking powder
3/4 tspl salt
raisins, dried cranberries (or other berry) or chocolate chips
pecans (optional)
1 cup oats, or until full

Attach recipe to jar:

Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl. Add 3 cups milk, 2 eggs, a dash of olive oil (optional) and a dash of honey (optional). Mix and make pancakes!

The Lord of the Home is the Protector!

Jeff is the Lord of our home. He likes animals, but he is serious about them being in their place, OUTSIDE, and humans being in their place inside. :o) The Lord of our home works long hard days and when 8:30-9:00 rolls around he heads to bed and sleeps hard!

Our son (18), got a boxer puppy...do you know how well teenage boys care for their belongings??? Shortly after getting this puppy (8 weeks old!) he leaves town to work.

The girls dressed her up for pictures!

I hope he takes better care of his children than this! His sister Olivia, convinces him to let her be the owner. She has all these big plans to train her...yada...yada...yada... This puppy is now 9 months old and all she can do is sit! Actually, having a puppy is great to teach children responsibility and consistency! Or the consequences of NOT being consistent! Just as in raising children, it is easy to TALK about training and being consistent, the hard part is DOING it!

A word of warning...all boxers want to do is PLAY!

Savanna is a beautiful boxer. She is very smart. She even figured out how to rip the screen out of the screen door and jump in the house during a thunderstorm. She also knows that when we get on the phone (we have to use our cell phones outside) to pester the stew out of our old, faithful, squirrel lovin lab and bark up a storm while we're trying to talk! Scrappy...ol' Faithful!

Well he's not a full blooded lab, but don't tell him that, he is serious about that part of his heritage! Scrappy is our Alpha Dog! He protects us from squirrels or anything that might look like or smell like a squirrel! He'll bark if you come to our yard...but then be prepared for a big wet kiss!

OK...to my point...

The other night we had bad storms and our boxer flips out when it storms. It was 11:30 and she was going to dig a whole through our steel door to get in!!! Olivia and I both got up to let her in. Olivia had a towel to dry her off some, which she quickly wiggled her wet, muddy self through (boxers are all muscle!) and she made a mad dash for the Lord's bed, where he was in a deep sleep!!! It was one of those things you see on a silly movie...it was SO FUNNY...although Jeff did NOT think it was at all funny! We reassured him the next morning that she only ran to him because she knows who the Lord of the house is, who the real Protector is! He still didn't find anything funny about it! hee hee hee

I know when life storms hit I run to my earthly Lord Jeff and to my Heavenly Lord, Jesus!

Psalm 27:5
For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.

Flat Whole Wheat Bread?

I think I have finally figured out why my bread keeps coming out flat! I grind our wheat and use the bread machine for the mixing, kneading and first rising, and it rises wonderfully! When I knead it a second time and put in a loaf pan it rises very well, but then when I bake it flattens out on top...pretty frustrating!

I bought some vital wheat gluten and used a little less yeast and it seems to have helped. ahhh...it smells so good, and taste even better. I added some Thyme to a couple of the loaves. Now to control myself to one slice a day!

I am making a few loaves to put in the dishes I am returning to people that brought us meals after my surgery, along with 'fall looking' thank you notes I have made!
Just give me some pretty paper, scissors, glue and makers and you won't see me for hours! :o)

Our County Fair

This week was our county fair, and as usual we enter lots of projects. We plan all year long for this. The week before the fair our home turns into "Fair Central"! We are usually putting finishing touches on projects, baking, running to the store for that last minute item, it's a crazy time for us. We LOVE it, but are always ready for it to be over...kind of like Christmas. :o) This year was not as much fun due to my surgery the week before, so my heart really was not in it. We went long enough to look at the exhibits and see if we won any prizes. The girls didn't even ride any rides.

Today we went and picked up our items, ribbons and money.

Emma did better this year than she has ever done. Here she is with a pillow she hand quilted and won first place with! Just below it and to the right is her first patchwork quilt.














Here she is with her Blue ribbon
for her acrylic painting.
She won a 6 Blue ribbons, 4 Red ribbons,
and 3Yellow ribbons and a total of $87!!!

She also did a 4-H booth about Entrepreneurship.
She didn't win anything for that, but she sure did put alot of work in it.

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Here is Olivia with her Christmas quilted wall hanging.
She got second place, a Red ribbon ($5).









She won third place,
a Yellow ribbon on her Oil painting.
This is the first time she has done one of these.

Olivia also entered a 4-H display, won second place and $50.
Her display was about the bountiful agricultural production of Alabama.

She won a total of 7 Blue ribbons, 5 Red ribbons, and 3 Yellow ribbons and $87 on her other entries, plus the $50, for a total of $137!!! She was so excited! She did well with her herbs, canning, baked goods, flower arranging and crafts.

I won 3 Blue ribbons, 5 Red ribbons and 6 Yellow ribbons and $67. I was happy with that.

Better To Give Than to Receive

In light of my recent surgery and what feels like a looooong...sloooow...recovery I have been on the receiving end of much kindness lately. It is humbling and wonderful at the same time. I am grateful for my friends and family, especially my husband who insist on keeping me under his wing. :o)

Last night we had to venture out to the funeral home for a while and stopped by our county fair to see how we did on our entries (I promised Jeff I'd only stay for a few minutes).

While looking at the exhibits, a lady who was working as security to guard the exhibits, came up to me and asked, "Are you Kathy Brodock?" I smiled and said yes...wondering what I had done wrong ;o) She asked me if I am the one that leaves cookies for our mail lady. At that point I assumed that I was not in trouble!

She goes on to tell me that she is the sister of our regular mail carrier. I had heard that our regular carrier was very sick with cancer (I have a friend that works at the same post office). This sister told me how much they had enjoyed the goodies! Now I am ashamed to admit the last time I did that was last fall! :o/

I had to fight the tears because I felt this wave of approval from my Heavenly Father. I have never really talked with our mail lady, just waved. Then last year I thought I should leave her a treat once in a while. I also take a basket of goodies to the library and post office a couple times of year. I didn't think it was a big deal, just that as Christians we should do these things. That it might brighten someone's day, and perhaps build some sort of relationship that would eventually point to Christ. I can't go to Africa or Russia to minister, but I CAN minister right here!

So I asked her how her sister was doing (which is not good), and told her we'd pray for her. And I was just so in awe of God's goodness. That He allowed me to do such a simple act that meant so much to someone else. Not that I seek to be puffed up, but that something so simple as baking cookies can mean something to someone, and in turn I can promise to pray for that person...it ALL points to Christ!

I've been feeling so useless lately, like I need to be doing more. Jeff and I were even talking about Foster Care this week (well more me than Jeff..lol). But last night when a stranger came up to me and thanked me, and I felt God's approval, as if He was saying, "Well done good and faithful Servant." perhaps I am doing just what I should be doing, looking for little things to point to Christ.

All praise is His!

“Make us masters of ourselves
that we may be the servants of others.”
Sir Alexander Patterson

I read this quote on Amy's Humble Musings today. I think I'll will put this on my screen saver for the week!

Another Step Higher

The Blessings of Family, Church and Community

This past July I discovered that I had an incisional hernia (I've had 4 c-sections and a tubal reversal). My first thought was how in the world are we going to pay for this? Jeff is the hardest working man I know and has been self employed for almost a year now and health insurance is out of the question at this time. The whole insurance issue is another story that makes my blood boil!

A Lesson in Humility

After sharing my health concern with a of friend of mine, Kelly, whom I go to church with, she shared it with a few others without me knowing. Though her motives were out of pure love, I was a bit humiliated that she had done that. I hated for anyone to know we were in need...yes...I know that is pride. I also didn't want anyone to think Jeff is not providing for us, because does. He works so hard and is so faithful. We know he is doing the right thing for our family by branching out and being self employed, but I'm hear to tell you, it is HARD! I know it will get better. We are learning a whole new meaning of walking by faith.

Good Samaritan Clinic

Another family at our church has a mother that is a director of a clinic. It is a Christian health clinic that provides medical care for the poor and uninsured (yes, that hurts my pride to say that too, though I do not consider us poor at all). It is almost a 2 hour drive to the clinic, but what a blessing it has been. I was prepared for the worse as far as attitudes. I expected to be treated as a "bum". I cannot begin to explain how well we were treated by EVERY receptionist, EVERY nurse, and the surgeon. The surgeon and doctors donate their services. The clinic is paying for the cat scan and hospital fees. EVERY appointment I have gone to when telling the receptionist that Good Samaritan sent me here, they would SMILE and act so happy to have me there. Never once have I had to explain our situation or questioned about money. Never once has it been implied that I was 'needy'. The whole Good Samaritan story of the Bible has a new meaning to me now.

Oh, Ye of Little Faith!

This past year our family has had a couple of hard blows, and I admit I have questioned 'why?'. When I found the hernia, I did ask 'Why God? We are trying so hard to be faithful, Jeff is working so hard." I dreaded telling Jeff about all of this because he already has so much on him. BUT I cannot explain the love I have felt from GOD as I have went though this. He DOES care for me, He WILL provide.

My surgery was Wednesday, it went smoothly. I've had a couple of rough days with pain and fever, but I am feeling so much better today. I have been so blessed by my church family with cards, flowers and meals. Our neighbors have brought meals. The Fire Dept. sent a beautiful plant, Jeff is a volunteer fireman. My mother came to spend a few days. My son who is out of town ordered a huge meal to be delivered to our door. My daughters have been holding down the fort and phone! And my favorite person on earth, my dear husband...being his usual self, attentive, loving, and protective. I hope I never have to live without him.

Mostly I am grateful to my Lord, who once again has brought me to higher ground, closer to Him. With each circumstance that comes along God strips away my pride and shows me how much I need Him. I do know Him more today than I did a few weeks ago.

“The Micah Mandate” by T. Roosevelt

This was placed on the inside cover of each Bible given out to the Doughboys. It is been called the “Micah Mandate.”

The teaching of the New Testament is foreshadowed in Micah’s verse,

“He has shown you, O Man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: but to do justice and to love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Do justice; and therefore fight valiantly against those who stand for the reign of Molech and Beelzebub in this earth.

Love mercy; treat your enemies well, suffer the afflicted, treat every woman as though she were your sister, care for little children, rescue the perishing, and be tender with the old and helpless.

Walk humbly; you will do so if you study the life and teaching of the Savior, walking in His steps.

Remember, the most perfect machinery of government will not keep us as a nation if there is not within us a soul, no abounding of material prosperity shall avail us if our spiritual sense is atrophied. The foes of our own household will surely prevail against us unless there be in our people an inner life which finds its outward expression in a morality like unto that preached by the seers and prophets of God when the grandeur that was Greece and the glory that was Rome still lay in the future.

Joshua's Graduation Party

Finally!

Jeff built this picnic pavillion about 4-5 years ago
and it has been such a blessing when we have parties.
The swings are my favorite.
Gift Table
I wanted to give thank you gifts that were electrical related seeing as Josh is going to be an electrician, so Emma had the idea of giving everyone lightbulbs. We attached a "We are so glad you came!" note with a ribbon for all our guest.


Several years ago Jeff worked at a fab shop and this merry-go-round was left behind, his boss gave it to him. It took 5 men to lift it and get it in the ground.

Jeff built this insolated buffet a few week ago.
I wanted something rustic looking,
but safe from critters to keep food and paper goods in.
It has a stainless steal top that was going to be
thrown way on a construction site he was working at.
I just LOVE it! He's so handy to have around!

Baby Cullin...he's such a doll!

Abby
Aaron and Josh (not my Josh) playing horseshoes.
Men and Horseshoes
Ana, Kristie and Olivia in Olivia's herb garden.
Katie and Katie
Robin and Patricia, Laura entertaining the little ones with bubbles.
Joshua and Pastor Joe
Art, Carla and Steve (future Circut Court Judge!)
Sweet Taylor, Robin (no that's not Gretchen Wilson hee hee), and Chandler Mae
Neighbors and adoptive grandparents, The Vest.
The Hutchinsons (The Mayor of the Lake) and their family.
Olivia and Ana
Andy...Nancy in the background.
Tucker!

Joshua and Mr. Williamson (neighbor and friend)
Friends
Josh (who just graduated Basic Tarining) and Joshua...my boy!

I know I've missed alot of people. I just noticed that I have no pictures of Jeff or Emma :o(, and I don't need one of me! Patricia took a bunch of pictures so maybe I'll post more later. Thank you DEAR friends for such a pleasent evening!

We are richly blessed with good friends.

Food Art:Alligator

I made this for Joshua's Graduation Party.
Cut 2 pineapples longwise. Place them in a row.
The tail and mouth ends need to be cut a little more at a slant to taper downward.

Using a long knife cut a slit for the mouth.
Use a radish and red grapes for the eyes held on with toothpicks.
You could also use berries or raisins for the eyes.

This a a small butternut squash from our garden.
A small piece of radish and dried cranberry for the eye.

Place fish in mouth, make sure the tail is hanging out.

Use 2 kiwi for the feet, cut 2 'v's, to look like claws.
Emma made the fruit kabobs.

This was SOOO much fun to make!
I found the idea HERE!
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Here is a watermelon carving I did for the girls piano recital a couple of years ago.

This was fun. I just carved the music notes out with a knife, then filled it with fruit when arrived at the recital.

Be sure to see Wanda, the Watermelon Lady!