Giving Thanks

 

Happy Monday morning to you, my friends!  

And what a glorious morning it is!  

The temperature is 35 degrees F., and the sun is shining brightly.

I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you who faithfully visit this space to keep up with our happenings. 

I truly appreciate each of you.

I've been under the weather for a bit and needed to take time away to catch up on things that I had to let go when I wasn't up to par.

Now Thanksgiving is this week and then less than a month later, we are able to celebrate the birth of our precious Saviour at Christmas.

In order to enjoy and accomplish some things before that time arrives, I need to take a blogging break until the first of the year.

Thank you for understanding.

I wish each of you a very blessed Thanksgiving 

and Christmas.

Be Encouraged

 

A Place for Weakness - a book review

 

A Place for Weakness by Michael Horton has been a blessing to me as I have read the biblical worldview of suffering.  It had been previously published under the name of Too Good to Be True.

The book begins by recalling when his father was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor at the age of 78, after he and his wife had cared for their parents in their home and then for 15 other people in their residential care home.  The author goes through how hard it was to watch his dad struggle and then on to his joy as he entered his last days on earth because of knowing that he would soon be in the presence of Jesus.

Just two months after the death of Michael's father, his mother suffered a massive stroke while Michael was driving her home from her sister's funeral.  He tells of how his parents had moved to be close to him and his wife to help with their children and now his dad had died, and his mother was partially paralyzed and disabled.

He also shares about the struggle his wife went through with depression after recovering from several especially difficult miscarriages.

How did he deal with it all?  I believe this quote will give some insight.

"Only when we learn to despair of ourselves, to suffer our own nakedness in God's holy presence, to renounce our righteousness and listen only to God's Word, are we enabled to recognize God as our Savior rather than our just judge and holy enemy."

And again, here,

"God is truly to be found in the weak things of the world."

Another quote that I found to be a favorite of mine is...

"Donning someone else's armor, we are standing in someone else's strength.  The testimony that prevails in this battle is not about us and what we have done or how we have improved, but a witness to God and what He has done in Christ.  Pointing away from ourselves to Christ, is the only sure defense when Satan accuses us in God's courtroom."

And yet another...

"Sound doctrine is not, as many seem to assume today, a distraction from the real life of Christian discipleship, but preparation for it."

The last quote that I will share is...

"Like the belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness, the gospel is not about us but about someone else: Christ and His proclamation, 'It is finished.' "

Chapter 10 is the final chapter in this book of 194 pages and the entire chapter deals with the subject of death...the fact that death isn't part of life, but rather death is a result of the fallen world (in other words, sin), and for those who are in Christ, it is the gateway to life.

I would highly recommend this book whether you are dealing with suffering or not at the present time.  I found it to be scripturally sound and appreciated the emphasis on sound doctrine.

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have become aware of how sensitive I've become to gluten recently and about two months ago I started going gluten free.  It makes for a bit more of a challenge when it comes to cooking and especially baking, but there are plenty of recipes online to help us along.

This recipe was actually given to me by my oldest granddaughter.  But I wanted to share it here with you so you could give it a try because they really are tasty.

1 cup super-chunky peanut butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Mix first five ingredients in medium sized bowl.  Mix in chocolate chips.  Using moistened hands, form generous 1 Tablespoon dough for each cookie into a ball.  Arrange on two ungreased cookie sheets, spacing two inches apart.

Bake cookies until puffed, golden on bottom and still soft to touch in center, about 12 minutes.  Cool on sheets five minutes and then transfer to racks; cool completely.

Turnips...Are you a fan?

 Strongheart recently came to the house in search of a quarter.  When I asked him what he was going to do with it, he said he wanted to use it as a point of reference for the size of the turnip that he'd just dug.

Here you see the top view of the turnip with the quarter on the upper left side of it.

(Isn't the green top lovely?  I love the design!)

Here is the view from the front with the quarter in front of it.

This was without a doubt the largest of the turnips that he grew this year.

He's been enjoying some of the smaller ones. 

 

They give me heartburn, so I don't partake, but he took this HUGE one to church to give to a friend on Sunday.  People were amazed at its size.

From My Journal

 TODAY IS:  11 November 2024

AROUND ME:  The majority of the beautiful leaves have gone from shining beautifully on the trees to gracing the ground with their presence.  The trees look a bit sad and the earlier hours of darkness, both morning and evening, make the days seem longer.

I AM PONDERING: the heartache that death brings.  There have been two different deaths around since my last post...one a parent and one an adult child.  It makes me thankful that as Christians even though we do grieve, it is not without hope.

AMONG MY FAVORITE THINGS: being inside with a fire in the woodstove...especially when it's a dreary day outside.  As we say around here, "Just because it's dreary outside doesn't mean it has to be dreary inside. " :)

BOOKS I AM CURRENTLY ENJOYING:   Refreshment for the Soul is a collection of Richard Sibbes thoughts on different topics and is compiled as a devotional.  So, it will be an ongoing reading throughout this year.

The Soul's Conflict by Richard Sibbes  I'm making a bit of progress on this read.  While Richard Sibbes writings as a Puritan are much easier reading than some of the Puritans, I have taken my time on purpose as I've read through the pages.  It's been not only a learning experience, but also a convicting experience as well.

I AM THANKFUL FOR:  technology that allows us to have access to good Biblical teaching, my copy of God's Word where I can study and grow closer to my Father, Jesus my Redeemer, for those who have served in the military...our veterans.  

NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN: silence can be golden.

FROM THE KITCHEN:  

A quick and easy snack.

Use a pizza cutter to cut up corn tortillas and place on a baking tray that is covered with parchment paper.

Coat each side of the chip with oil and season with salt and your favorite seasoning.

I used Trader Joe's Chile Seasoning on these.

Bake in 350-degree F oven for 8 minutes,

turn the chips over and bake another 8-10 minutes. 

 

SOMETHING I REALLY ENJOY:  

(Picture courtesy of the Internet on Pinterest)

TO DO LIST FOR TODAY:  Blood work at the local hospital, shopping for some organizing helps for the pantry and ironing.

"So teach us to number our days, 

that we may present to You a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 90:12 

Be Encouraged

 

Raisin Filled Cookies

 With the holidays approaching, I thought it would be fun to share with you one of our favorite cookie recipes that we enjoy at some point over the next couple of months.

Raisin Filled Cookies

1 cup shortening

2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp salt

2 Tablespoons milk

1 tsp. vanilla

3 1/3 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Combine shortening, salt, brown sugar, and eggs.  Sift flour with soda and baking powder.  Add 1/2 flour mixture to first mixture, then milk, then remaining flour, mixing thoroughly.  Chill until firm enough to roll out.

FILLING (which should be made ahead of time.  I generally make it the night before and allow it to sit on the counter covered until the next day when I make the cookies.)

2 cups raisins

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup water

In medium saucepan combine all ingredients.  Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly.  Chill before filling cookies.

Side note:  I use a biscuit cutter to cut out the dough, then put a bit of the filling on the bottom piece, add the top piece and then make a slight slit or use a fork to put holes in the top of the cookie in order to leave space for the steam to escape.  I think Grandma probably used a fork, but I use a sharp knife to make a small slit.

A Fun Afternoon

 Strongheart and I had planned to go to the state park close by us last Saturday.  He had been gone for the majority of the day on Friday with his doctor appointment and then going to our church and taking care of the flowerbeds there as well as planting some new spring bulbs.  

When he came home, he suggested that we go to Coopers Rock that afternoon because the forecast was for rain that evening.  He felt that the rain would take the leaves off the trees and the main reason we were going was because a friend had told me she'd heard that the leaves were at their peak.

I thought I would share some of the pictures from that afternoon.

This was taken from the overlook.  

There were some shadows, so the colors don't all pop.

But this is overlooking the Cheat River.

There are two overlooks...with one being much larger than the other.

Strongheart took this one from the smaller of the two overlooks as the larger one was filled with people!

He took this one from the larger overlook. 

The colors really were beautiful.

A better view of Cheat River

The sun was in my eyes, so there's a bit of squinting going on,

but this entire outlook is designed around this huge rock...

Coopers Rock State Park.

This tree was exceptionally beautiful.

This is the last picture that he took and it's in the parking lot.

The sun was shining, and the colors were vibrant.

From there we walked down to the Trading Post and looked at all of their expensive "souvenirs" and was about to walk out the door when Strongheart spotted their bin of carved walking sticks.  I had told him earlier that I wanted to get one for when we hike trails, and he graciously asked me to pick out the one I wanted.

After that, he took me to our favorite spot to eat when we are in town.  We had a delicious dinner and then came home.  It was a special time all the way round.

From My Journal

 TODAY IS:  4 November 2024

AROUND ME:  After a few chilly days our temperatures are to be back in the high 60s and low to mid 70s again this week.  I'm still able to view some beautiful oranges and reds on the leaves that are still holding on to the trees.

I AM PONDERING: this quote by Dustin Crowe, "When meaningful reflection rather than mindless neutral describes our thanksgiving, we know God in deeper ways."

AMONG MY FAVORITE THINGS:  

Border Collies

While this picture is from the internet, 

this looks just like our Border Collie, Wilma,

when she was young.

We were blessed to have her as part of our family for 15 years.

BOOKS I AM CURRENTLY ENJOYING:   Refreshment for the Soul is a collection of Richard Sibbes thoughts on different topics and is compiled as a devotional.  So, it will be an ongoing reading throughout this year.

The Soul's Conflict by Richard Sibbes  I'm making a bit of progress on this read.  While Richard Sibbes writings as a Puritan are much easier reading than some of the Puritans, I have taken my time on purpose as I've read through the pages.  It's been not only a learning experience, but also a convicting experience as well.

A Place for Weakness by Michael S.Horton  

I AM THANKFUL FOR:  my Redeemer, good health, a husband who loves me unconditionally, a warm home on the chilly mornings, good friends, our church and the family that we have found there among like-minded Believers.

NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN:  that sometimes the best response to an awkward situation is to say nothing.

FROM THE KITCHEN: 

Corn Chowder with Salmon and Dill

 

SOMETHING I REALLY ENJOY:

This blue and white Salt Box that I purchased in June was delivered to me three weeks ago when our son and daughter-in-law came for a visit.

You may read the story about this salt box HERE

A QUOTE TO REMEMBER: 

TO DO LIST FOR TODAY:  More Swedish Death Cleaning (I do this in small chunks of time, but I am making progress), cleaning out the fridge, and a general straightening up of the house after a busy weekend.

"So teach us to number our days, 

that we may present to You a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 90:12 

Be Encouraged