Homemade Pasta

Jeff had his heart set on mac and cheese tonight, but then I realized that we were out of pasta. I didn't want to go to the store for one item....so the girls looked up how to make their own pasta...and here it is:

Pour 1 1/2 cups of flour
and
1 tsp. salt
out on work surface.
Make a well.
Pour
2 BEATEN extra large eggs
into the center of the well.
Mix with finger tips, then knead for 8-10 minutes.
Roll into a ball, place in bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
Let rest for 30 minutes.

Roll dough out on a floured surface until it is 1/16th of an inch thick.
Keep your rolling pin floured.

Emma was using my favorite rolling pin, a glass one that you can fill with ice cold water,
it makes rolling much easier...so the girls tell me! ;o)

Let rest another 15 minutes.

Use a pizza cutter to cut into thin 1/4" or less strips.
Let rest another 5 minutes.
Boil your water and add pasta, it only takes a few minutes for them to cook.
They will rise to the top when they are finished.
Be sure to check one first to see if it is done before draining and rinsing.
Olivia grated some cheese, chopped a little onion, mixed it with some milk and butter then added it to the pasta, while Emma cooked the deer meat and made the veggies!
YUM YUM!
I'm so glad God gave me daughters!!!

This is a book we gave Olivia a couple of years ago, it is WONDERFUL!
Lots of great pictures and good instructions.

Necessity is the mother of invention!
After making this wonderful meal, Emma realized that we are out of dish liquid! :o)
She came running in and asked, "How do we make our own dish soap?" lol
I LOVE IT!

Olivia's cooking tip of the day:
Don't taste meat from a hot pan...you might burn your tongue!
Think I should get a picture of that??? lol
Emma's tip of the day:
Don't dirty any more dishes than you want to wash!

Our ULTIMATE Goal

I help moderate a reversal group for Christian couples. I had a reversal 5 years ago so I know where these ladies are in their journey. Some of them are truly seeking God's will for their life. Sadly, some are worshiping the creation. I am not being critical of them, because I once walked that path, not only about having children, but about many other 'idols'. I use to think if I could only have this or do that, attend THIS workshop, be in THAT kind of church...the list goes on and on, that THEN I would be content, able to do what I needed. I won't spend your time confessing my sins, but I thought I'd share my reply to some recent post on our group where I see ladies struggling with accepting God's will and being content.

*****************************

Our ULTIMATE goal should NOT be to have a baby. Our ultimate goal as Christians is to accept God's will with a heart of gratitude. Many, well... MOST of us will not conceive after a reversal, it is just a fact. Yes, there are many who DO, but not all. My reversal was 5 years ago. I've had one miscarriage (plus 2 surgeries). It took all those heart aches for me to realize that it was God whom I need to worship, the Almighty CREATOR, not His creation! Don't get me wrong, I long to have a baby and I can't wait for grandchildren now. I REGRET having my tubes tied, but God's mercy is great! I cannot dwell on my mistakes, but I can learn from them, live in today and look forward to tomorrow. Our HOPE, our JOY, our ALL HAS to be in God. If we have no more children then it is God's will. It does not mean He doesn't love us.

We can make all the plans in the world, but it is GOD who directs our footsteps. God knows our future, He knows what we need and what we don't. He knows what will make us more like Him. PLEASE, PLEASE put your focus on HIM. Whether He gives you 8 babies after a reversal or none, we have got to accept His will with rejoicing. MOST women on here just want one more baby with their latest husband, that is NOT what we are about. Shouldn't we all desire to stand before God and hear those words, "Well done good and faithful servant!" There is nothing wrong with hoping and waiting on the Lord, but we better be ready for HIS answer, not what WE THINK God will say!

Ladies, I've seen many women leave this group (and other groups) with bitter hearts because God did not grant them a reversal or later give them a baby in the expected time. Don't let His creations become your idol. Love God, wait on Him, and whatever He wills...thank Him for it! He is a good God!

THE TRUE REVERSAL
IS THE REVERSAL OF THE HEART!

HERE is our reversal story:

Always Sign Your Work

Just as an artist signs their work, quilters, card makers or any creative piece should be signed by the maker. Especially items that will be saved for many, many years. Here is a baby quilt I just finished. Not that I think it is a masterpiece or that I am a great fiber artist or anything like that! This label is made from some fabric that is treated with Bubble Jet, and I hand appliqued Holly Hobby on to it, leaving room for a message to be written in later.

The center is a whole cloth, then I pieced on the boarders and added the binding, but I hand quilted all of it. We had a visitor at our guild last week and she showed us how to hand quilt without a hoop or rack and this was my first attempt. I LOVED IT! I like having something that I can do with my hands while I watch a movie or have family time.

Proverbs 31 says the Virtuous Woman works eagerly with her hands, KJV, but the NASB says she works with her hands with delight. This baby quilt was a pure delight to work on!

And Yet Another Apron Contest!

Smokity Frocks won the last contest! I'm proud to say I voted for her, she deserved it!!!


Be sure to see how you can enter to win her GIVE AWAY!

This is my first time to take part in Frugal Fridays, hosted by Crystal at Biblical Womanhood.

Here is my tip about Decorating on the Cheap:

I want Scripture all over our home. Here is one of my favorite verses Romans 12:12, rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer. I found a pretty rose graphic in clip art, printed it off on some nice paper and placed in this frame I bought for $1 at Dollar Tree! I just love the frame, and you can't tell it is plastic until you get close and touch it! I love looking for frames at the thrift store or garage sales.

I've done the same thing in our bathroom, directly across the "seat" on a shelf at eye level, I have the first catechism question framed, which is; What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

I have more pictures HERE of how I decorated our daughter's room with very little money.

Essay Contest

Hearts for Family is hosting a Mother's Day Essay Contest for homeschooled children.
Kelly is one of my dearest friends and I LOVE her all natural bath products!

Pass the word along!!!

He Is No Fool

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose."
-Jim Elliot

I love what Mrs. Wilt posted yesterday!


She is no fool who gives up perfectly manicured nails to play with her children for she will teach them love.

She is no fool who skips salon haircuts because her little ones need new shoes for she will teach them self-sacrifice.

She is no fool who drives her little ones in an older car instead of a new one if it can't be afforded for she will teach frugality.

She is no fool who cleans her home thoroughly for she teaches her little ones order.

She is no fool who gives what she has to the poor instead of pocketing it herself for she teaches her little ones to give wholeheartedly.

She is no fool who rises early to commune with her Lord instead of sleeping in for she teaches her little ones the importance of beginning the day with God.

She is no fool who obeys the traffic laws with her family in the car for she teaches them obedience.

She is no fool who dresses and behaves femininely for she teaches the importance of remaining separate from the world.

She is no fool who loves the Lord with all of her heart for she will provide an example of godliness by which her children can live.

Party in a Box

My brother just turned 40, he lives about 16 hours away. Because he and his wife live such hectic lives homemade goodies are a rarity. So I thought I would send him some pumpkin bread. I bought a package of balloons...black of course, along with some black ribbon, a few funny, but mean birthday cards about his age, and a can of silly string. I blew the balloons up just a little and used them as packaging around the pumpkin bread, with hopes that it would not get crushed before the box got there. Thankfully it all arrived safe and sound! I also filled each card with lots of confetti, and then I threw a couple of hand fulls of confetti in the box, it clung to the balloons wonderfully! I'm glad I was not there to clean it all up! ;o)

I call this a party in a box.

Unflinching Obedience

From my reading yesterday:

"The Lord had not tempted Abraham with evil but rather provided a proving ground for his unflinching obedience. Now Abraham could indeed be the father of a great nation and be greatly blessed of the Lord. Like the patriarch, all who hear God's call to duty must tread the path of absolute obedience before we discover the many blessings along the way. "Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD, that walketh in His ways...happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee" (Psalm 128:1-2).

Early in the Morning Devotion
Woodrow Kroll

At this point Abraham had "unflinching obedience", but he sure did struggle with it before this. I think when we fail that we cannot beat ourselves up too bad, but to repent and press on...move up to higher ground! I want to be like that, I want unflinching obedience at the same time I think you have to go through a whole lot to get to that point.

Faith

Several years ago I read Hudson Taylor to our children and I thought it was time to read it again. Mr. Taylor knew what he was suppose to do with his life and he kept his eye on his goal, regardless of his circumstances. I like this passage from the first chapter:

"Hudson truly did not mind being in such circumstances. He thought that it provided a good opportunity to develop the strong faith in God which would be needed on the mission field. The Lord has always faithfully provided for him in the past, and he was confident that this occasion would turn out no different."

I don't think any of us enjoy difficult circumstances, personally, I HATE them! We don't embrace pain and suffering whether it is physical, emotional or financial. But IF we could remember while being in that difficult circumstance that it is for our good, then we can find courage to PRESS ON (to quote Stonewall Jackson), knowing that God is developing our stronger faith in Him! Or as said in a sermon a few weeks ago, 'God is giving us opportunities to glorify Him through our difficult circumstances'. May we all be empty vessels, a living sacrifice that one day we will hear, "Well done good and faithful servant."

Quilted Placemats

One of my projects this past week was to make 6 quilted placemats for our kitchen table. I made these out of some fabric that I already had. I used a stipple stitch, which you can't see in this picture, but I LOVE the feel of it! I'd like to make a few different sets to change out for the different seasons/holidays. I like this yellow, it brightens up a dreary, cold January.


At our quilter's guild this week we had a class about hand quilting without a hoop or rack. I LOVE IT!!! I am practicing on a baby quilt right now. I'm also working on a couple sets of slippers I am crocheting.

Loving Our Calling

Finding joy in the little things of life. I found this little creamer at a thrift store a couple of weeks ago for 39 cents!!! It just love it! It is cold and raining here in Alabama this week, which means lots of mud...no snow to cover the yuck! During the winter most things here are several shades of brown mixed in with the evergreens. BUT...we can make our homes full of sunshine by doing simple little things, having a good attitude and SMILING!!! Olivia picked some herbs and these paper whites (the only ones in bloom) form her little garden. Then we added a few greens and pansies in a juice glass to brighten the living room a bit. I love making my house a home. The atmosphere can be nasty outside, but it can be a beautiful, sunny day inside when we are homemakers that love our calling.

Morality

Christians should not simply reflect the morality of their era
but the morality of the Bible.
~John Piper

Romans 12:2,
“Do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

Quilted Doily Wall Hanging


This was my project this weekend. One thing I really want to change about decorating our home is that I want less 'bought art'. I want items that truly reflect us. Items from our family's history or items we've actually made. This wall hanging is hung by our front door. I chose to do 6 hearts representing our 6 children, 2 of which are worshiping our Lord face to face now. You can't see the quilting, but I did do some hand quilting to shadow the hearts.
The rest of it is machine pieced.

APRON POWER...time to vote!

Go HERE

Barbara of MommyLife.net
is hosting an apron contest.
She says,
"I say it's time to bring back the apron -
and I don't mean the unisex cloth chef's apron,
but the frilly feminine - even to the point of useless - kind."

View all of the aprons and send an e-mail to megamommy12@aol.com and list your 10 favorite aprons. Click on the pictures or slideshow to make them bigger and to reveal the entire comment under each. Voting ends Jan 19 at midnight.

To avoid stacking votes with friends, Barbara will only accept votes with 10 choices - not just one or two.

No special criteria for judging - just whatever appeals to you.

Feel free to write your comments about your choices so she can include some with the winners.

Also, if you want to share how this contest has encouraged you or changed your views please share! She'll be doing a round-up of those so we can continue to reflect on them and encourage each other!

May the best apron-clad woman win!

VOTE FOR US! (We're #40)
and your other nine favorites!

EDUCATION!

A few lessons learned this week that were not taught from a book,
but I'm sure will always be remembered!

Lesson 1:

When you go to get your driver's permit, be sure to call and find out the correct days and times the office is open AND double check that you have ALL of the required ID's!!! We spent 8 hours and about 200 miles of driving so that Olivia could get her permit! If at all possible don't waste your time getting it in Blount County (which is where we live).

Lesson 2:
If you are going to dig up bushes and small trees, bring dad (or any respectable MAN) and a truck to help! Olivia and Emma dug up several bushes and a couple of trees for our yard and Olivia's herb garden. Thankfully were able to catch Dear ol' Brother to bring his truck and load them up. :o) Oh I envy those families with lots of boys! ;o)

First thing Friday morning Olivia went outside to build a dog pen, then she returned asking for Dad's tape measure, which we figured out was in Dad's truck, which was not here. So being the creative person (and quilter) that she is, she grabbed our sewing tape measure.

She and Emma set their minds to making a dog pen for Olivia's dog Savana, who is now one year old and attracting MALE neighbor dogs! It was quite entertaining watching these 2 girls scrounge up 4x4's and old fencing, digging holes, nailing the wire on... It took them all morning and they did a good job. A year of working by Dad's side is paying off!

Lesson 3:
Even if a dog is neutered, that does not mean that he will not be interested in a female dog!!! I figure, 'what's the use'?Jeff tells me I don't understand men nor male dogs. lol...

Pictured here is our family dog Scrappy (the lab), and Savana the-wanna-be-floozy...notice the CHAIN on HER?! What you don't see is the neighbor's NON-neutered dog is usually about 30 feet away that we are trying not to kill! Scrappy is Alpha dog here and he will not let that dog near Savana. It has been very educational! He is so noble in protecting her! :o) Would noble be the right word? lol...

Lesson 4:
Let Dad help with the fence!

After the fence ordeal today, Jeff brought in a deer that a friend gave him. It was Emma's turn to *help him*! She had to hold it so it wouldn't twist and turn while he cut on it.

Lesson 5:
If blood is involved...RUN! HIDE! DO MATH!!!

This afternoon, after the fence...after the deer...we went and saw our friend Steve King be sworn into office as Circuit Court Judge. He and his family are also fellow Christians (Reformed), and solid home educators.

Quite an educational week!

Teaspoon Pin Cushions

These are so easy to make and are pretty sitting around anywhere, plus they keep a needle and tread handy! I bought some cheap, but pretty teaspoons from the thrift store, used a hot glue gun to glue down the fabric (from scraps) and wool sweater scraps. Use lace or brads to trim it out add a ribbon and there you have it! These make great hostess gifts too!

Mrs. Wilt's post about her cake plate provoked me to share with you what I have done with one of my cake plates. I use it for a turntable in my cabinet in the furthest corner, that 5'2" me has a hard time reaching. This way I just turn it to what I want and it is pretty to look at.

I also keep a covered cake plate on a table in front of a window in our kitchen. I love it, it is so versatile, practical and pretty!

Joy is not gush:
joy is not jolliness.

Joy is simply perfect acquiescence in God's will,
because the soul delights itself in God himself...
rejoice in the will of God, and in nothing else.

Bow down your heads and your hearts before God,
and let the will, the blessed will of God, be done.

Commemoration of Amy Carmichael,
Founder of the Dohnavur Fellowship, 1951

Grandma's Quilt

More Christmas Surprises in January!

We live in Alabama, my most beloved Grandmother lives in Upstate New York. Most winters she comes down to stay a few weeks and then a few weeks with her daughter (and families) in Virginia. She will be 83 in March. Today I gave her her Christmas gift (yes, a bit late).

She was VERY SURPRISED! She is a lady of few words, but even fewer at this point.

I gathered photographs from all of our family members and incorporated
them in a Memory Quilt. There are 5 generations represented in this.

At the center is her wedding photograph and on each side are aerial photos of their farm, one of them taken in the 1950's. She has 4 children and each corner is dedicated to each of them and their families. Of course I used her favorite colors. After appliqueing each picture I stippled it.

This was a very emotional quilt to work on. All the old photos...and memories of my Grandfather that I miss so much, who is sitting before the Throne of God right now worshipping. Then there are those 'strained relationships' that I think most families have. And then there are the hundreds of miles that separate most of us. It is difficult to have close relationships when there is so much distance. I hope that God wills for our children to live close enough to us to be an active part in their lives and their children's lives.

I hope Grandma will actually USE this, wrap herself for warmth in those cold New York winters and wrap herself with our love!

<

Bottle Cap Pin Cushions

These are easy to make, pretty and useful too! They also make good little gifts for aspiring needlecrafters! Because we do alot of quilting around here, and hopefully we'll attempt apparel sewing this year, these are handy to have on hand...lol!!! I made several of these for a craft show and have given alot away!

You will need:
Bottle Caps
1/4" elastic
Spray Paint
Batting or wool
Fabric (velvet is good, needs to be something durable)
Hot Glue Gun and Sticks
Metal Skewer
Candle

Save your coke caps,
or if you live in the north you'd call them soda or pop caps! ;o)
Wash and dry them.

Heat a metal skewer over a candle flame and quickly stab and melt your way into the cap. You may need to work it back and forth a bit to make the holes wide enough.

You can spray paint your caps before or after you put the holes in,
though I think it is best to paint them before, but I forgot to take a picture! ;o)

Use about 3" of 1/4" wide elastic. Here I cut 3/4" elastic down the middle and it has worked fine. I used a small crochet hook to help bring the elastic through the holes. Tie a knot on the inside of the bottle cap leaving enough 'loop' on the bottom side for you finger to fit comfortably.

Cut a circle of fabric about 4" in diameter,
and use a small amount of batting or wool
(I used old wool sweaters form the thrift store, it will keep your needles from rusting),
and place it in the middle of the fabric.

Having your hot glue gun ready, glue around the inside of the cap and twist and stuff your fabric in there. You'll have to work with it a bit, but you'll get the hang of it. Hold it still for a minute or so, letting the glue cool and harden. Then add beads or lace for embellishments. I love mine!

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A Full Quiver, an ABC Report

I came across THIS this morning, which was pretty good. At least the reporter did not rip apart the family's comments, and they chose a 'normal' family.

The Birth of the Movement

Quiverfull is largely an American phenomenon, beginning with the release of the book "A Full Quiver" in 1989. There is no official organization, but in 1995, the Web site quiverfull.com went online with just 12 subscribers — now there are more than 2,600. There are probably several thousand Quiverfull enthusiasts all over the United States right now — and the movement is believed to be growing.

I have to disagree with him right here. This so called "movement" did NOT start with 'The Full Quiver" book. It STARTED with Adam and Eve, and God's command. Yes, the earth is populated, but not overly as some would claim by their false statistics. Never in Scripture did God say to stop populating. And perhaps the so called movement is "growing" because Americans have figured out that the old paths as told in Scripture are right! Perhaps some Christian Americans are learning from the mistakes of the past couple of generations and seeing that a life full of THINGS is not fulfilling, and that building the Kingdom of God through families is God's primary way of doing things! Yes, evangelize, but don't neglect the FAMILY, the home!

***
If there is a grandmother to this movement, it's Nancy Campbell. Her magazine has been advocating this lifestyle for decades. Campbell explained why followers even have a problem with natural family planning or the "rhythm method."

"When we really stop and think about it, it's not natural," she said. "We have to go against the way that God designed our bodies. He designed them to be fruitful, so if a couple [doesn't] want to have children…they've got to do something to their body so it doesn't work the way God planned it."

What about simply not having sex?

"What married couple is not going to do that?" Campbell asked.

***

Here again, Nancy Campbell is NOT the grandmother of this movement, I'd say Eve is, along with Sarah and many others! :o)

Over and over I've heard, "God gave us common sense to control that area." Well, from what I have read in Scripture God says NOT to lean on our own understanding but in ALL our ways we are to TRUST Him!. Sex is good in the confines of a Godly marriage, and the rewards of the womb are a tremendous blessing!

Purple Charm Quilt

THIS IS A QUILT TREE

For any of you that enjoy quilting (or at least collecting fabric) this would be a fun project. You simply send 2 -6" squares (of 100% cotton and purple, any shade or print) to 4 people and me, along with a letter of instruction. In the end you will have received 72 -6" squares, if no one breaks the chain. It is neat to see where the fabrics come from. So far all the names/squares are from the east coast, from Vt. TO Fl.

If you are interested, send me an email and I'll send you 2 squares and a letter. Nope, it will not bring you bad luck if you don't! :o)

The ABC's of Being a Helpmeet

From the Frugal Homemaker

Admit when you are wrong
Be positive
Cuddle
Do it his way
Encourage him
Fix his breakfast
Give back rubs
Hug often
"I love you" should be said many times daily
Joke around in a playful manner
Know his needs
Listen to him
Manage your home well
Never hold grudges
Open your eyes in the morning and smile
Pray for him
Quit nagging him
Reminisce about good times
Show respect and honor
Trust, and earn his trust
Understand his need for reverence
Vulnerability is a feminine trait; cultivate it
Wink at him!
X is for private times
Yearn to please him
Zealously guard him with your love

SHOTGUN

What is it about kids and sitting in the front seat that is a matter of life and death? It is so important! I'm sure we have all played SHOTGUN at one point or another, but when you become a parent this little survival-of-the-fittest game will drive you crazy! Several years ago we came up with a front seat schedule. Each child was assigned to the front seat on a certain day of the week. This solved all the fussin' about it! That is unless someone forgets JUST WHO'S DAY IT IS!!!