Learning from the past and looking ahead

 

The past year has been full of wonderful memories and struggles of hard work physically and emotionally and much opportunity to learn from it all.  With every life giving moment, either in joy or sorrow, we are blessed.  Each step of our journey is taken in faith.  

Looking into the next year, we are already planning where to make room for more garden area, what to plant, when to plant it, how to make some extra income from our homegrown and homemade things and the immediate pending chore is simplify, simplify, simplify.  God has placed this issue heavily upon my heart and it is my time to act on it.  Plus, just recently we faced some extremely strong, tornado producing storms where we did lose some fellow Ozarkers.  So much property lost and lives left to rebuild.  We were blessed

Christmas Goodie Baking

I think I am finally done with any and all of the Christmas goodie baking I am going to do!  I have been baking for a week, and if what there is, isn't enough.....I'll just simply have to start earlier next year.  We send gift packages to family living in other states, so baking has to start in time to get them sent out in time for Christmas.  Plus....this year, I had a fun, FUN time with my daughter in law and grandson last Saturday, baking.  Their family moved down here earlier this year, and this is the first time ever we have been able to create such a memory at Christmas!  We baked all day, the children played, cut out cookies, played, frosted and decorated cookies, and made a huge, wonderful mess that I would clean up many times over in order to enjoy such a wonderful day.

Up to this evening the baking list includes, Amish Pumpkin Fudge (the best I've ever tasted), several different barks.....Pecan, Cherry Vanilla, Dark Chocolate Mint and I still may yet make a Butterscotch bark (thank you Pam for the wonderful recipes, they are delicious!), Lemon Poppy Seed bread, Chocolate covered Ritz filled with peanut butter, Pumpkin bread, Strawberry filled Thumbprint cookies, 7 Layer Bars, Christmas cut out sugar cookies, Chocolate covered pretzels....that's all I can remember....I wanted to also make Snowball cookies and Forgotten cookies, but I just don't know if I have any more baking in me!  If anyone is interested in my dear friend Pam's recipes.....go to her incredible My Favorite Recipes Blog where you will really enjoy her recipes, tips and overall down home goodness!

Tomorrow the real cooking begins with three family events to cook for.  Next week.........left overs!

How about you?  What have you made and/or still plan on baking?  Be sure and share links to your recipes please!

Sweetened Condensed Milk

Since I don't normally keep sweetened condensed milk in my pantry, the few small cans I bought for Christmas baking went too quickly.  Thankfully, I was able to find my grandmothers homemade recipe for it and wanted to share it with you in case you run out too soon while baking!

Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 cup dry nonfat milk

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup boiling water

3 Tablespoons butter

In blender, place dry ingredients first, then add butter and finally the boiling water.  Blend until smooth.  This will keep well in refrigerator for 5 days.

Encouraging 2011 Predictions

With all of the problems our world is facing, it can be unsettling to the mind.  Today I will share with you ten predictions that are true!

Top 10 Predictions for 2011 

 

       1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

       2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth..

       3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

       4. God will still honor the praises of His people.

       5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

       6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

       7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

       8. There will still be room at the Cross.

       9. Jesus will still love you.

     10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.   

          Isn't it great to remember who is really in control,

         and that; "the Word of the Lord endures forever."  

                                                ( 1 Peter 1:25 )

Raw Milk

Obtaining raw milk seems to be getting harder and harder.  I didn't even know it was possible here in Missouri unless you were friends with a dairyman or if you happened to stumble across some at a Farmer's Market before the government scared off all the farmers.  In Wisconsin, if you live outside of the city limits, you are more than likely going to have a neighbor that will provide you with plenty of raw milk.  Every time they milk, there is so much milk that they pour pails of it into tubs to feed their surplus of barn cats.  The farms I knew always had an average of 20 cats or so.  Needless to say, my hope of finding raw milk here in Missouri has all but been abandoned until today!  A friend of mine mentioned a website that has began a campaign for Real Milk.  There is an abundance of information on this site including the pros and cons of raw milk and you can look by state and city at your local farmers that offer raw milk.  Unless you've been under a rock, you

The Little Drummer Boy

Finally!  A true dusting of snow.  Don't ever say I'm not easily pleased!  The north winds blew in last night and gave us a small glimpse of what winter could be like.  Of course it isn't anything in comparison to the blizzard of 2010 that took place last night in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  My son reported being snowed in around 8 o'clock last evening and as I write, it is 2 degrees there now with a wind chill of minus 14 threatening to sink to a minus 20 or a minus 30 before the night is over.  After living up there for 9 years, I sure don't miss that wind.  I do miss the snows and that's why I can be pleased with the teeniest tiniest wisp of snow here.  Nothing like waking up to a crisp clean snow with the sharp red cardinals at the feeders. 

This morning was our Christmas program at church and the choir really outdid themselves this year.  During the singing of The Little Drummer Boy, a group of young men came in with many different types of drums and gave quite a performance.  It was very moving.  It reminds me that even little ole' me has something to give, no matter how small and that I should do all I can to the glory of the Lord.  I'm not even a little drummer boy, but I rock the cradle of the future and believe me when I tell you that I do not take that responsibility lightly.  As a mother, a wife, a daughter, a cousin, a niece, a friend......I struggle daily to live, listen, teach, guide, speak, encourage and praise with love.  It is my calling, and as glorious as the drummer boys sounded this morning, they were giving all they could with what little they had, so with what little I have, I too want to sound glorious to the Lord in every word and deed to the family and friends and everyone else that God has brought into my life.

I pray that you will experience the blessing of God this Christmas season, enjoying family and friends as we celebrate the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ.

Bread Making with Amish Friends

Recently my daughter and I were invited to an Amish friends home in order to get a copy of their wonderful bread recipe.  Boy were we in for a few lessons!  Nothing more humbling as an "Englischer" than to learn how to do things from someone who is completely self sufficient!  When I was asked what I cook with, I replied "an electric stove".  Response?  "Tsk tsk tsk".  :o) 

When we first arrived, we sat down while she wrote out the recipe. The plainness of the home was overwhelmingly peaceful and extremely clean with fresh white paint.  She asked me how I got my yeast, in packets or in a bag.  Since I usually get it in a jar and she had never seen