When Husbands Sin Against Us

Husbands sin! It's a fact! Another fact may be that the person they sin against the most is their wives...and vice a versa.

A wife often has an arsenal of weapons to punish her husband for his sinful responses or actions.  A cold stare, a sarcastic remark, steaming silence, a sullen distant mood or withholding physical intimacy. The world we live in is quick to promote this kind of response along with our fleshly pride.  Just happen on an afternoon talk show (not on purpose, of course!) and you’ll see how audiences thrive on one person standing up for their rights against another. But as wise godly women know...God’s ways are not man’s ways and the fruit of those kind of actions bring nothing but discord and unhappiness in a marriage...not to mention sinning against God.

I've often shared how the beginning years of our marriage were spent fighting and fussin’ with one another. Something would be said in a tone that the other spouse didn’t like, then they would pop off with a smart remark and the fight was on. I eventually developed a small amount of self-control (by God’s grace) and began to hold my tongue but my heart was still not right because I remained bitter and distant from my husband. Without realizing it, this became my way of repaying him for the wrong I felt he had done. My response was sinful and did not bring glory to God not to mention the devastating effects it had on my marriage.

 God's Word teaches that His children must "turn to him the other cheek." (Matt. 5:39)  Would that mean instead of avenging yourselves, prepare for another assault, and bear it patiently?  If someone strikes us on the cheek and we turned to him the other cheek then aren't we preparing for another assault?

Is it reasonable to expect that our husbands, who are sinners just as we are, will offend us repeatedly over the coming years? Forget the coming years...what about just today? What if we kept before us the reality that our husbands are sinners (saved by grace) and will likely sin against us today? What if we prayed for our hearts to be ready to forgive...and turn to them the other cheek?

Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the LORD, and He will save you. Proverbs 20:22

I know that this topic brings up many questions like all the 'what ifs' concerning abuse.  Please understand that I am not addressing physical abuse in a relationship. I am talking about the common, everyday unkind, word (maybe even harsh), or perhaps an angry, impatient, demanding tone or the neglecting of a duty towards a wife.  Why not cover those offenses with love? Why not turn the other cheek?

 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

The reason we forgive is not because our husbands deserve it...but because Christ has forgiven us! No sullen looks, no cold shoulder, no bitter words from the cross for our weaknesses or offenses that He suffered so horribly for.    He who knew no sin took the punishment our sins deserved...and died in our place! We forgive our husband as God in Christ has forgiven us! 

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

We may have long established habits of responding in sinful ways. We need God's grace and His Word to change. It will not come out of our own strength for without Him we can do nothing. Renew your mind in a few of the Scriptures I have shared and then pray for God to change you and then practice obedience. I continue to practice this truth...very imperfectly!

 Oh, what a glorious fragrance when the life that is pouring forth from us is not our flesh but the life of Christ. A fragrance that permeates our homes and the lives of all those within the walls of our home.

"Lord, please help us to bring you glory by not holding unforgiveness towards our husbands when they sin against us. Help us remember  the way you have forgiven us and help us to extend that grace to our husbands. Help us to remember that we daily sin against our husbands and are in need of their forgiveness, too!  In Jesus Name. Amen."


Do not say,  “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”  Proverbs 24:29 

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

*~*~*~*~*

Hello!

Life is speeding by this time of year even though I am moving slower. I'm getting less done but it still gives me a grateful heart when I look at what the Lord does enable me to do throughout the month instead of what I can't do. Christmas is nearly here with all the blessings of warm homes, heavier blankets and earlier evenings spent snuggled indoors.The vegetable garden and all it's work is behind me except for some tree trimming and a few beds needing to be prepared for the winter months.   I've been working on getting as much done ahead of time for the holidays as I can.  How about you? 

Here are a few things I was able to accomplish this month (by God's grace)...


1. I blanched and froze tomatoes from the garden this summer. So, I recently made a batch of spicy tomato sauce and pressure canned it.  I had leftover basil and parsley from the recipe which I froze in ice cube trays with  olive oil poured over them. When they were frozen I placed them in a freezer bag and marked the bags for the freezer. This has preserved the herbs better than putting them in water. I can now easily toss them in a pot of homemade soup.

My amazing mother in love!

2. This summer I also harvested the poblano peppers from our garden to use later in Chile rellenos, I broiled the peppers and then wrapped them in a moistened tea towel and placed them in a freezer bag to 'steam'. Once cooled I peeled off the skins and took out the seeds. I should have remembered to take out the seeds BEFORE I broiled them. I then froze them with parchment paper in between.

3. I was given 2 large grocery sacks of Granny Smith apple from a friend. They were so sweet and delicious! I peeled, sliced and froze them in 6 cup portions for future apple pies for the holidays (regular and low carb). I also made a low carb apple crisp.

A recent family visit!

4.  I saved the broth from some chicken I boiled. The cold, winter months are just around the corner and I love to make large pots of soup to use for our lunches during the week. The granular broth has a long list of items I don't want to consume and one can of liquid broth had soy (which I am trying to not eat).  So, I am hoping to make more of my own broth to freeze in the coming months. I also froze my turkey bones to make broth later.

5. I've made a change when it comes to my laundry detergent. I've been making my own detergent for maybe 10 plus years? But, my husband commented a few months ago that his shirts were not smelling like they were clean. I had also been noticing that my towels had a different smell that I didn't care for. So, I wanted to let you know I am no longer making my own laundry soap but I am purchasing the SUN brand of laundry detergent. It's inexpensive and our clothes are smelling clean (not like perfume, but clean). Hubby is pleased. Sometimes saving money is not worth it in the long run if the end results are lacking (or stinky!).

Butterfly Palace with grandchildren

6. Another change is the homemade cleaner (half white vinegar/half water) I was using to mop my laminate wood floors. The vinegar and water just never seemed to make the floors look clean. So, I purchased Murphy's Oil Soap and added just 1 capful to my homemade cleaner. What a difference that made. The bottle will last a very long time since I am only using a capful.

7. I cashed in my SWAGBUCKS for a $10 Amazon gift card which I will use on an Amazon order.  I made SWAGBUCKS my home page so it reminds me to watch a video or do a survery everyday to earn more Swagbucks. I love Swagbucks because it's an easy way to earn gift cards at home.  Here is my referral link. I get credit if you sign up through this link. (Thank you!) 

SWAGBUCKS REWARD LINK

8. I had someone ask me recently what my secret was to making a fluffy chocolate chip cookies. I've gathered a few tips over the years from friends and articles on the internet.  I use half butter and half shortening instead of all butter. I also add about 1/4 cup more flour. Lastly, I refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before I bake the cookies and then I keep the dough in the fridge in between filling up the cookie trays. I hope these tricks work for you as well as they have worked for me.

9. I love MAGIC ERASERS to clean my fridge, walls and cabinets. They don't last very long, though. I noticed the ends wear out before the middle. This time I cut off both ends and I'm still getting use out of the middle instead of just throwing the eraser away.

10.  Organic butter lettuce was on sale for 2/$5. A thought came to me as I was starting to throw away the roots. I planted them to see if they would grow more leaves AND THEY DID! I put some organic snail bait around them to deter the snails and the leaves are getting so big. Who would have thunk! *smile*

Repurposed, Saved and Reused!
~ Melon rinds, egg shells, carrot peels, broccoli stalks, coffee grounds, ling, apple peels, cabbage cores,etc. were buried in the ground to compost over the winter. I am laying newspaper on top and then grass clippings and leaves on top of the newspaper. It will all be composted into the ground by the time summer gets here.
~ Powdered sugar bags, broccoli salad bags, brownie mix bags: washed out and reused. 
~ Mayo jars: washed/reused to store egg yolks until garbage day. ( I use more egg whites than the yolk)
~ Plastic vegetables bags (from the produce department): I used these for tons of things. 
~ All glass jars are rinsed and reused to store grease drippings.  
~ Leaves are falling so I'm putting them around the artichokes and other plants to protect them from frost and the colder temperatures. 
~ Newspapers saved for lining the garbage can, composting, under the cat box, etc. 
~ Rubber bands from the newspapers and vegetables are saved to reuse. 
~ Large shallow boxes from Costco are reused to transport food in our truck to holiday parties/ or mom's. 
~ Laundry water is recycled to plants.

Burying compost

 

NEW RECIPES:

Low Carb Sloppy Dog Casserole

14 ounces of hot dog, cut on bias (I only had 2 organic hot dogs and 2 hot links on hand, not organic!)
1 pound ground beef (I used ground turkey)
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped (didn't use)
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
8 ounces tomato sauce
1/4 cup. sweetener (I used Erythritol. Adjust to desired sweetness)
1/2 tsp. molasses ( Adjust to desired sweetness)
2 tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. mustard
1 tbsp. worcestershire
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (I used FOLLOW YOUR HEART dairy free cheese on my portion)

Fry the hot dogs first to brown and set aside. Saute ground beef, bell pepper, onion and garlic. Mix together the remaining ingredients except the cheese. Place in 2 quart casserole and place cheese on top. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until heated through.

Mr. Snoopy enjoying a long winter's nap!

JALAPENO JELLY

I made a few batches for Christmas gifts from the jalapeno harvest from our garden. 

1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped jalapeno pepper
6 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
1 (6 fluid ounce) liquid pectin

1. Boil peppers for 2 minutes.
2. Add pectin. Boil 1 minute
3. Pour into hot jars.
4. Water bath for 5 minutes.

Homemade Chocolate Pie

HEALTHY PUMPKIN GOOEY BUTTER CAKE (Low Carb)

             (by healthy indulgences, http://healthyindulgences.net/)
This was heavenly! Next time I will make half of the crust and see if I like a thinner crust.  I also let the filling cook about 5 minutes longer than stated. It did well freezing it, too.

Crust Layer

• 1/4 cup (57g) of unsalted butter, melted
• 2 ounces (57g) of cream cheese, softened (I used dairy free)
• 2 cups (8 ounces blanched almond flour, gently packed into cup and leveled) (I used my baking blend with pumpkin seed flour)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• 3/4 cup Erythritol or 1/2 cup xylitol / and 1/4 tsp. stevia extract
• 1/2 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Filling Layer

• 8 ounces (227g) cream cheese ( I used dairy free)
• 1 stick (113g) unsalted butter, melted (i used dairy free)
• 1-15 oz can (432g) of pumpkin puree
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup erythritol or 1/2 cup xylitol /and 1/4 tsp. stevia
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

For the crust

• Melt butter and soften cream cheese in microwave.
• Powder natural sweetener blend in coffee grinder and mix into batter.
• Mix together until smooth, then add beat in vanilla, egg, sea salt, baking powder, and almond flour until a dough forms.
• Scrape into an 8 by 8 metal pan and spread out over the bottom.
• Bake for 15 minutes and remove to cool.

For the filling

• Soften cream cheese and melt butter in microwave.
• Grind natural sweetener blend in coffee grinder or magic bullet.
• Beat cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth and without lumps.
• Add eggs, vanilla extract, and melted butter, and beat until incorporated.
• Next, add natural sweetener blend, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, and mix just until smooth.
• Rap the pan down on counter top a couple times to get out air bubbles.
• Pour pumpkin mixture over crust and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until center jiggles a bit when you move the pan. It will set up and sink down upon cooling overnight in the refrigerator.

*~*~*~*~*
Some interesting things I read this past month:
How Not to Go over Budget
How Can I Know Which Bible Promises Belong to Me?
Housecleaning Central
Uses for oranges
Secrets to Continuously Productive Veggie garden
Everyday Life Hacks
Depression Era Dishes 
13 Incredible Useful Tension Rod Ideas 
100 Things You Can Compost

Well, that's it for now! Thanks for stopping by, Ladies! I hope your holidays and homes are filled with a thankful and joyful heart because of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. Bye for now!


BLESSED TO BE HOME!
Georgene

 

Above Scriptures are taken from the ESV Bible.
A Woman that Fears the Lord
http://awomanthatfearsthelord.com
Copyright 2002. Rewritten in 2016. Georgene Girouard. You may copy and share this article in it’s entirety.

TITUS TWO: Loving our husbands

I've been studying 1 Peter this summer and what a delight to revisit some of the verses that meant so much to me as a young bride when my marriage was very tumultuous. I was recently captivated by a phrase found in 1 Peter 1:22 which says to "love one another earnestly". The Greek word earnestly means to stretch yourself to the limits,without slack (taunt).  I began to think how this verse could be obeyed in different relationships but the one I kept coming back to was my husband. Was I earnestly (stretching myself to the limit,without slacking up) for him? When was the last time I had really worn myself out to love him beyond the normal ways I daily care for him (laundry, meals, housekeeping and other wifely duties)?

I find it's easy to get caught up in caring for his needs and home, extended family and ministry opportunities to where the stretching myself to the limits for my husband become less of a priority.  Now, if you asked my husband (and I have) if he feels like he is getting my leftovers or that he is less important than others then he would say, 'no'. But, in my heart I was convicted when I read this verse and I know it's because I let myself get so busy that I don't stretch myself to the limits to love and serve him the way I did when I was younger. I'm one tired puppy most days but that is still no excuse because my schedule can be rearranged to put him in a higher place of importance. I'm also learning that there are many ways to stretch myself to the limit for him that don't need physical strength.

~ Submitting to him.  Submission is definitely a way to stretch myself to the limit.
~ I am practicing to think of his plans as more important than my own. To set aside what I am doing to help him when he wants to do it and not when it's convenient for me. (Phil. 2:3-4)
~ To stop what I am doing when he is talking...turning to look him in his eyes...to really listen to what he is saying. Being present.
~ Schedule at the beginning of the week ways to minister to him so he doesn't get my leftover time and strength.

I try hard to not overschedule my week otherwise I lack the strength to love my man beyond the daily round of caring for his physical needs. My habit tends to be that I will schedule just the amount that I think I can physically handle but sure enough 1 or 2 other things pop up and then I am back in survival mode. I am trying to change this pattern by underscheduling (I know that is not a word but it fits) my week! Please pray for me because I need to grow in this area!

So, that is what has been rolling around in this old brain lately. How can I obey this scripture by stretching myself to the limit in the way I love my husband? What actions and words speak to his heart and let him know that he is the most important person in my world? Most wives know what makes their husband happy and I am no exception. If you don't know then just listen to his complaints and find a way to eliminate them.

The wonderful thing is... I am being blessed in the stretching and it's drawing us closer together as I think of ways to bless him.

*~*~*~

Want an organized home in 10 minutes a day?


*~*~*~

These were the best melons from our garden EVER!

What a busy summer! I always declare that the current summer is busier than the last but I think I'm just getting older and so everything seems busier! *smile*

1. I tried a new vegetable this year called Dino Kale. It's a low oxalate kale (lower chance of forming kidney stones). It grew fast and easy but there was no way we could eat all that it produced so I dried it in my food dehydrators.  The nice thing about kale is that it dries quickly. I put the dried kale in freezer bags and into the pantry it went. I'll use it in soups, smoothies or frittatas this winter.

Dino Kale

2. I've been using a tall glass apothecary container to hold our Q Tips. It was difficult to get the swabs out of the bottom of the jar so I was going to buy a new container. Instead, I started thinking about what I had on hand and it dawned on me that a small canning jar might fit the bill! It's the perfect size and I already had it on hand.

3. I'm still on a mission to figure out how to stay within budget on my 5 week pay periods. This is what has been helping:

• I stock up on monthly essentials during the previous months. These are items I buy every month.
• I don't shop the sales during that 5 week pay period unless it's an outrageous deal. Last week I found walnuts at .99 for an 8 ounce bag. I grabbed all 10 of the ones on sale and threw them in the freezer. That was a deal I couldn't pass up. But, normally I don't buy extras for those 5 weeks.
• I don't 'recreational shop' which means that when I go to Walmart I first PRAY when I enter the front door and then I TRY not to look to the 'left or the right' but I just keep focused on my list of essentials. 
• I wait as long as I can before I go to the store. I try to stock up on vegetables and fruit so that way I only have to go every other week...hopefully!

A summer visit with two friends. We were homeschool moms together.

4. My (low oxalate) tomatoes produced a decent harvest this year. I don't have time to make my homemade Spicy Tomato Sauce until this winter so I blanched the tomatoes and froze them. The tomatoes trickled in, with a few here and there, so I put a small saucepan of water on to boil while I was making dinner and dropped in the few I had collected that morning. Once the skins 'crack' then I would let them cool in the strainer and take the seeds out before I froze them. Easy peasy!

5. We have been buying soaker hoses to eliminate hand watering in our flower and vegetable garden. There were still parts of the garden that required hand watering so I started thinking about how I could make my life easier.  I bought a few more soaker hoses and a 4 port faucet. Now I just have to flip a switch each time I want to change the water to a different area. No more hand watering except for 2 areas in my yard (I'm still trying to figure out how to eliminate those). Sometimes you have to spend money to make your life a little easier so you can save your energy for the most important things in life (like stretching yourself to the limit in loving others).

6. I bought some new curtains for my kitchen. I saved the nice, heavy plastic packaging (with a zipper) for organizing miscellaneous items in my drawers. I was going to give the curtains to the thrift stores when it dawned on me that the curtains in the garage are sun faded. You don't have to look far to find a way to reuse most items.

7.  My mornings are so busy that oftentimes I don't get to the laundry until after lunchtime. This can cause a problem of clothes not drying before nighttime since I hang my clothes on the line. Thankfully, I have a couple of clothes lines strung in my garage so if I hang a load of laundry late in the afternoon it's dry by the next morning. This doesn't work as well in the winter or cooler months.  My electric bill can jump $30 in a month if I use my dryer regularly.

Playing UPWORDS with the grands!

8. We use Magic Jack for our home phone. It has it's quirks which can be frustrating but you can't beat the price. I've never broken down the yearly fee into monthly installments until recently. Now I won't be hunting for a way to come up with the yearly fee. I use Quick Books for my accounting program so I can 'hide' the monthly amount in the register until I'm ready to pay the yearly bill.

9. I buy Truvia at Costco so of course it comes in a large box. When it was empty I cut the top off and used the box to hold plastic bags in one of my drawers. It makes the drawer look neater. I never throw away a small sturdy box. I keep a larger box in the garage that I store them in. I also saved a small square, plastic mushroom container to use in one of my drawers.

10. I needed to update the color of the toilet paper holder. I found a dark brown spray paint (it was called a metallic) to spray paint it.  It looks brand new. I also sprayed a little step stool to match the new colors in my kitchen. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~Saved, Reused and Re-purposed~*~*~*~*~*~*~

- I cut up old underwear to use for rags.
- Scraps of melon rinds, egg shells, coffee grounds, vegetable and fruit peels, shredded paper, dryer lint, vacuum cleaner dirt,etc. were buried in my vegetable beds to build up the soil.
- Tinfoil (washed and reused to cover drip pans under stove burners) or to cover leftovers.
- Plastic storage bags (washed and dried): reused
- Grass clippings are put in a separate bin in the yard (the frame from an old dresser) to use for 'lasagna composting'.
- Newspapers: Lasagna composting, painting, etc.
- Broccoli salad bag, broccoli bag and other vegetable bags washed out to reuse
- Cardboard boxes were flattened and laid down in the garden as a barrier to kill weeds. I put newspapers down first, then the cardboard boxes and then grass clippings on top.
- Heavy string from the dry cat food bag that you pull to open the bag: Used to tie up flower in the yard.
- Cat food bag, plastic based: I use these in my city garbage can for items that are too big for the indoor garbage can or maybe have too much liquid.


 

A nice harvest of butternut squash and a few Granny Smith apples 

  *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Some fun reading~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

How Does a Family of Four Survive on  $17,000 a year?

How to Make a Dust Ruffle  

Low Carb Recipe Love on Fridays 

Laine's Letters Archive 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~RECIPES*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A new recipe we liked:

Chili
2 pounds of ground beef (I used 1 pound of lean ground beef)
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
2 to 2 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1 (8 oz.) jar salsa
2-4 tablespoons chili seasoning mix (see recipe below)
I used: 1 cup black beans or kidney beans to keep it lower carb
...but the original recipes calls for:
1 (15 ounce) can light kidney beans
1 (15 ounce) can dark kidney beans

Fry ground beef and onion in a large pot until the beef is browned. Drain grease. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for at least an hour. I kept adding a little bit of water to make sure it didn't burn.

Chili Seasoning Mix 11
Taken from allrecipes.com
Recipe by Sal

1 Tbsp. dried minced onion
1 Tbsp. crushed red pepper
1 Tbsp. dried, minced garlic
2 tsp. white sugar (I used Truvia)
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. dried parsley
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/4 c. flour (omit for low carb)
4 tsp. chili powder 

*~*~*~
Low Carb Pizza 
This cheese dough crust is the best I've tried so far and it's much easier than the cauliflower pizza crust. I had to use dairy free cream cheese and Monterey Jack cheese which makes a difference in the taste. But,  I'll be making this again. Use your favorite pizza/or marinara sauce and toppings and bake until the cheese is melted.


Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 3 tbsp cream cheese
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup almond flour
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 425°
2. In a large microwave safe mixing bowl, combine mozzarella and cream cheese. Microwave for 1 minute. Remove from microwave and stir to combine. Return to microwave for 1 additional minute.
3. To the mixing bowl, add egg, almond flour, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, sea salt and black pepper. Mix until all ingredients are well incorporated. (It will be stiff and hard to mix)
4. Line a 12 inch pizza pan with parchment paper. Spread the "dough" into a thin but even layer, covering the pizza pan. If the dough gets too stringy and unworkable, simply put it back in the microwave for 1 minute to soften.
5. Bake on the middle rack for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Watch it to make sure that it does not bubble up. Use a toothpick to pop any bubbles, if necessary.Add your favotire toppings and bake another 10 minutes or until cheese melts.

Thank you to my friend Esther who told me about this link with a lot more Cheese Dough recipes.
Cheese Dough Recipes

Big, beautiful tomato vines

What I'm reading this month:

~ When Forgiveness Doesn't Make Sense by Robert Jeffress. I am going through this book a second time to pull out the main points. This will be a book that I will keep in my library to use as a reference. The author establishes what the bible teaches about forgiveness and the barriers to forgiveness and how to overcome them.




Well, that it's for this month! I hope you ladies have enjoyed your summer! Fall is just around the corner with all the wonderfulness of holiday gatherings and warm cozy evenings and pumpkin and... so much more! God is so good to give us different seasons to enjoy!



Blessed to be home!
Georgene

Titus Two Hospitality

            Practice hospitality!  Romans 12:13 ESV

Don't you enjoy visiting a home where the friendly soul throws open the door and invites you in with no hesitation? They don't care what they look like or the state of their home because their focus is on you! Their work is set aside and they begin to minister to your needs! They may ask questions like.."how are you feeling?" and "how is the family?" They may put on a kettle of water and pull out their special tea cups as they arrange a few treats on a small plate. The world has stopped and time slows down for the next half hour as they practice hospitality. 

The word PRACTICE means to aggressively chase like a hunter pursuing a prize and HOSPITALITY actually means to be friendly to a stranger. I have entertained a handful of strangers in my home over the years but mostly the ones who cross my threshold are those I am acquainted with and love. 

Biblical hospitality includes inviting in other believers as well! 

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 ESV


My mom once said that she prepares her home in the morning as if she were expecting company. I like that idea because it sets a precedent for the day. It shows that I am determining early on in the day that I am ready to obey God's command to practice hospitality. But, I'll be very transparent with you that even with this mindset you'll rarely find my home picture perfect. There is a whole lot of living going on between these walls and if I wait for a perfect home...or a day with nothing on my 'to do list'...then I will never practice hospitality. 

My sweet mama always insists I have a cake for my birthday (sugar free, of course!)

I have a choice when unplanned guests knock on my door and all is not perfect on the other side. 

- I can hide in the bedroom (I did this as a young bride).
- I can invite them in and continually apologize for the state of my home/self which might make them uncomfortable and keeps the focus on myself (I can't count how many times I've done this over the years). 

Or

- I can set my pride and reputation aside, throw open the door and at the same time open my heart to welcome them as I would welcome Jesus! 

"Heavenly Father, please give me YOUR grace to practice hospitality in a way that will bring glory to you!" 

A sea of melons!

"The reason this is no minor biblical theme is because the streams of hospitality flow deeply from the well of God. Christians love the stranger, because we have been loved by the Father when we ourselves were strangers."      John Piper


I enjoyed reading both of these resources on hospitality and thought you might enjoy them, too!

Hospitality by Baker's Evangelical Dictionary

Hospitality and the Great Commission


"When there is vroom in your heart...then there is vroom in your home."  First we have Coffee by Margaret Jensen! (One of my favorite books!)

Friends are a special gift from God!

                           ~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~


The summer months always prove to be a busy time of year for our household. The family birthdays start in March and go strong throughout the rest of the year along with graduations and some construction work needing to be done in our home.  All of this activity has kept this old woman busier than she is used to! *wink*  It's a blessing to have a full life!

 Here are a few other things going on in our home...


1. I am moving a bit slower this year so the veggie plants went into the ground a bit later than usual! But, they are finally taking off and we are beginning to reap a small harvest. I planted several kinds of low oxalate tomatoes,  Black Beauty squash, yellow squash, okra, cantaloupe, red bell peppers, watermelon, Dino kale (low oxalate), different varieties of hot peppers, butternut squash and cucumbers. We also reaped from previously planted artichoke plants, raspberries, strawberries, grapes and boysenberries. This was the first year we harvested white nectarines. Not a single apricot on our tree this year, though.  I think it's getting too much water from the vegetable garden.

Onions harvested from the winter garden.

2. Our bathroom and kitchen have some problems which needed repair. I started freezing leftovers about a month before the work began. It was so nice to have meals already in the freezer. Preparing ahead of time helped to resist the temptation to grab fast food every night.

3. Another holding tank was added to catch rinse water from the washing machine. I've been using 1 holding tank for several years but it would only hold the water from one load of wash. I rarely do just 1 load of wash.   I can now do several loads of laundry and use the grey water from both loads to water my plants. 

4. I stopped by my local thrift store and found a nice blouse for church. I paid around $2 with my 25% off coupon.
 
5.  I am on a mission to downsize STUFF in my office. I don't find any measure of peace when I walk in that room because there is too much going on visually. Busy, busy! So, I went through my first bookshelf and gave away the second row of books on each shelf. I also went through all of my Bible notes and studies and threw out anything I haven't used since I moved here 4 years ago. It is already feeling less cluttered which makes my eyes very happy. *wink* 

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This was a helpful link: 

5 Things People with Tidy Houses Don't Do!

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 6.  My mother always taught my sister and I to not wear our good clothes/shoes for everyday. We were trained to change into our everyday clothes once we got home.  I've carried that practice into adulthood and it sure helps my nice clothes last longer. The same goes with my shoes. I keep an old pair of shoes outside the back door to work in the yard.


7.  My face makeup was becoming difficult to get out of the bottle. I put it in the microwave for a few seconds and now it goes on easily. I was careful to let it cool slightly before I  applied it.

I made raisins out of last years grapes.

8.  I bought a big jug of bubble bath from Walmart to refill my small liquid soap containers by the sink. It's much cheaper than buying new ones. I was buying a large container of liquid hand soap at the dollar store but it was so thin that it would squirt straight out of the container onto our clothes. This works much better.


9.  I normally use Seran wrap to roll out my pie crusts but I was out the other day so I cut open a new small kitchen garbage bag. It worked great! Make do or do without is a great motto to live by! 



10. I knew my husband would have a special birthday coming up this year so I started saving money last summer. I decided a head of time how much to spend on him and then divided it by 12 months. I took out the allotted amount each paycheck and set it aside. A year later we had just enough to purchase a nice gift for him. That would not have happened if I hadn't planned ahead or I may have been tempted to put something on a credit card which would have made life harder in the coming months. 



Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
Proverbs 13:11 ESV

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 A friend shared this website and I've enjoyed reading how she feeds her family of 5 on $100 a month. We don't eat the same foods but it's helping me to think differently when I am shopping.  

The Fundamental Home

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I made this cheesecake for my aunt's birthday. It looks very professional if you arrange the apples in a pretty pattern. I used dairy free cream cheese for my aunt because she cannot tolerate dairy (like me). 

Low Carb Bavarian Apple Cheesecake


Crust:
2 1/2 cups Low Oxalate Flour Blend (recipe below)
(Or you could use 2 cups nut flour and 1/2 cup coconut flour)
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. stevia
1/2 cup Erythritol (or favorite sweetener)
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup sugar free honey
1 tbsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. nut butter (optional)

Topping:
2 cups granny smith apples, peeled and sliced (don't slice too think)
1/3 cup erythritol (or favorite sweetener)
1 tsp. cinnamon (I use cinnamon extract for lower oxalates)
1/4 cup sliced almonds (optional)

Filling:
16 ounces cream cheese (I used dairy free), softened
1/2 cup erythritol (or favorite sweetener)
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
Mix crust ingredients together and press into cheesecake pan or you can use a round cake pan. 
Bake 375 for 8 minutes

Place apple mixture in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees 15 minutes.  

Meanwhile, in the previous bowl beat cream cheese, sweetener and 1/2 tsp. vanilla until fluffy. Add the eggs and beat on low speed until mixed. Pour into pan with the baked crust and then arrange warm apples on the top of cheesecake filling.

Mix together sweetener and cinnamon together. Sprinkle on top of the apples. Place almonds in between apples (optional).  Bake 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Chill before using. 

Makes 8-12 servings 

Debbie's Low Oxalate Flour Blend
2 cups. pumpkin seed flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1/4 cup oat fiber (not oat bran)
1/4 cup. psyllium husks, ground fine 

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Happy birthday to our oldest son!

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Broccoli Salad

A friend gave me this recipe to make for our church tea many years ago. It's always a hit and requested at many family gatherings.  I double it for large gatherings. (I will take out a small serving for myself and make the dressing with Erythritol/stevia instead of sugar since I am eating low carb).

Ingredients:
4-5 cups broccoli flowerettes (peeled, chopped stems are OK if small)
(I use a large bag of fresh broccoli from Costco. I cut off the stem and only use the flowerettes)

1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries

2 cups grated cheddar cheese (optional)

1 lb. bacon, cooked until brown and crispy, then crumbled (or chopped)

1 cup roasted salted sunflowers (I used a bit less. 1 cup seemed like too much)

1 sm. red onion, chopped into very small pieces (or 1 sm. shallot, if preferred)
(I used less than 1 small onion)

1 cup real mayonnaise

1/4 cup. sugar

2 Tbsp. Apple Cider vinegar

Directions:
Salad: Wash and cut broccoli into bite-sized flowerettes. If using the stem, peel it and chop in small bite-sized pieces. Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Add raisins, bacon, sunflower seeds, cheddar cheese, and red onion. Mix well.
Sauce: Mix sugar and mayonnaise. Add vinegar and stir until smooth. It should have a sweet and tangy flavor.
Makes approx. 8 cups or 16 servings

Pour sauce over salad ingredients and mix well. If you used salted sunflower seeds, no additional salt is necessary. If using plain sunflower seeds, adjust taste as necessary.


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How to clean your stove

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Snoopy hopes if he stares at me long enough that I will feed him early!

SAVED, REUSED AND REPURPOSED

~ Paper towel roll (the cardboard in the middle)...(I wrap plastic bags or tinfoil around them to keep 
   my drawer looking neat) (Or I use them to hold extension cords)
~ Tinfoil (washed and reused to cover leftovers or line the drip pans under the stove burners)
~ Bread wrapper (washed and reused instead of gallon size storage/freezer bags)
~ Rubber bands from the newspaper
~ Plastic type dog food bag (I plan to use it for something messy that I put in the large garbage can that goes 
   to the street. )
~Vegetable packaging for fresh and frozen (lettuce bags, broccoli, frozen stir fry veggies, radish bags,etc. 
   Washed and reused in place of baggies.  
~ Newspapers (I use these to layer (along with grass clippings) in my flower beds and anywhere I don't want weeds.

That's about it for now! I'd love to hear what you have been doing this summer. Have you found time to garden or do any canning? Are you doing a yummy bible study on your own? Did you go on vacation? What has God been teaching you lately? Write when you can!

Blessed to be home!

Georgene
 

A Simple Life?

 'Living a simple life' is a hot topic among women in our culture who are looking for a way to lessen the stress of their days.  I think we all know what is important in life and that is loving God and others. When life goes spiraling out of control and those priorities get pushed to a back burner then our conscience knows something needs to change.  A simpler way of  life can hold great appeal to a weary and stressed out woman.

White Coconut Cake for Easter

  

 Simplifying  can also help those who deal with limited strength due to chronic illness. When we can't keep up then it's necessary to find ways to cut back on the non-essentials. This is my current motive for simplifying my days. The old grey mare she ain't what she used to be! 

A dear friend recommended I make a list of my primary daily responsibilities and then another list of occasional responsibilities (grands spending the night, taking mom to a doctor visit, etc.) and a final list of want to's.  I took these lists and then ran it through the grid of Scriptures in my heart to see if my priorities matched God's priorities.

We had our first artichoke for dinner

I'll give you an example. I am an older woman so the Scripture below is a direct command to me (it's also for younger women, too).  I looked at my daily and occasional responsibilities and asked if these priorities were listed. 

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to:
- teach what is good, and so
- train the young women to
- love their husbands
- and children,
- to be self-controlled, pure,
- working at home,
- kind, and
- submissive to their own husbands,
that the word of God may not be reviled.  Titus 2:3

You're  never too old to hunt for eggs!

As I look back over last week I began asking myself, "Was my schedule so crammed with my own agenda that it hindered me from teaching these things to younger women...if they asked? (And if I am to teach these things to younger women then I must ask if I am obeying these commands personally). Am I loving (phileo means affection) my husband? Am I practicing self-control (in the way I order my days,etc.) 

How can I change my priorities to obey God's Word?

He will ALWAYS give us enough time to do His will. I've already found some non-essentials that I have set aside so I can use my strength for the essentials.

Ordering my daily schedule around God's commands is the greatest simplifier I know!

Lovely flowers from a sweet friend to brighten my day!

*~*~*~*~*~*

Just a few things to write about this past month...

1. I love THE KITCHN! If you enjoy working in your kitchen (or WANT to enjoy it) then you might like this website. It's a great resource and I have learned quite a few new things. I like to find ways to be encouraged in the kitchen because it's so easy to get in a rut.
                                                                               

2. I try to frequent our local thrift stores because I have found out that they rarely have what I need at the last minute. I keep an ongoing list in my purse which includes every day tops for myself and shirts for my husband. I always check the book section for gifts (I found 2 brand new FOOD NETWORK cookbooks last year that I gave for gifts). I browse games for the grands, small appliances and greeting cards and dishes. This past month I found 3 nice blouses and only paid $8.00. A 25% off coupon comes in our local paper so I cut it out and immediately put it in my purse. I also keep other coupons in the car. I have greater success of using them if I see them in the car while I am shopping. The Goodwill store sends out reminders when they have $1 sales.

3. Our city is on a watering schedule because of the drought. Our public works department gives away a bag full of water conserving items such an hand held spray nozzle to wash the car, low flow shower heads and a faucet attachment that goes on the kitchen or bath faucet to slow water usage! All free! The kitchen sink faucet thingie has a lever to flip that slows down the water so you don't have to turn off your water completely. There were also some pencils, pens and paper tablets. You might want to check and see if your city has similar offers.

My grandson just couldn't wait to swim in APRIL! LOL!!! Poor baby!

 

4. I've shared how I save my used tinfoil but sometimes it's not in the greatest shape.  I decided to use the tinfoil to line the drip plate that fits under the stove burner instead of using a new piece of foil. Hard as I try I can never keep those pans looking brand new.

5. I have gone back to checking the library first before I order a book through Amazon. I saved $20 by checking out a desired book through my library. I was glad I did because it wasn't a book I would have wanted to save for my personal library.

A couple new varieties of tomatoes

6. I cooked my turkey the day before Easter since I was baking a ham on Easter morning. I used this tutorial to carve and reheat it! I sure wish I had seen this years ago.

Make Ahead Turkey

7. Spring has sprung in my neck of the woods. I have small flowers popping up all over my yard. I had some sweet violets in a vegetable bed so I transplanted them to the front yard. It didn't cost me a thing except a little time and it's brought joy being able to see them thriving in a new spot. Spring is the perfect time of the year to check with neighbors and friends to see if they have seedlings or cuttings they plan on throwing away. It's free and if your friends are like me they would rather pass the plants on than throw them in the garbage.

My lilac bushes were so pretty this year!

8. Did you know that a fertilized lawn needs less water? I always dread spending the money on fertilizer for our lawns but my husband likes a green lawn. I felt better when a clerk at Home Depot told me that a healthy fertilized lawn uses less water.

9. I throw the change from my purse into a glass jar. Last summer I let my granddaughters use it to go thrift store shopping. A few weeks ago the grands used it to play games at Bass Pro. This is a great way to do something extra without it taxing my pocketbook. One time our saved change added up to $500.

10. My grandchildren love ice cream Blizzards and sundaes but it's hard on my budget at $3 and $4 a pop. So, we made our own. I bought the ice cream on sale and their favorite candy bar. We refrigerated the candy bars and then cut them in pieces and folded them into the ice cream. They loved it and it was a fraction of the cost.

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You will still be eating last years harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new.
Lev. 26:10 NIV

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Our berry bushes are loaded with blossoms

SAVED, REUSED AND REPURPOSED
- Bread wrappers (washed and reused)
- Paper Towel cardboard tube (reused to wrap plastic bags around)
- Rubber bands (from newspapers)
- Newspapers (layered in vegetable garden for composting)
- Black plastic tray from frozen meal (drawer organizer)
- Paper bag from grocery store (reused to ripen fruit)

PANTRY STOCKING
- 1 roll of garbage bags
- 1 can of chicken and tuna
- 2 gallons of water 
- Toilet Paper 
- Propane tank filled
(This is my 5 week pay period so I don't buy many extras this month)

How about you? What could you eliminate from your daily schedule that would give you more time to obey His commands?

Blessed to be home,
Georgene