Singing His Praises This Thanksgiving

In the autumn of 1621, grateful Pilgrims declared a three-day feast to celebrate God’s provision and faithfulness. This festival gave birth to the holiday we observe today. May we have grateful hearts as we remember His faithfulness this year just as the Pilgrims did so long ago.

This Thanksgiving I will remember Him and praise him together with my family and friends. We have been so blessed. God has provided our every need. He has blessed our families with food, clothes and shelter. He has given us beautiful children and faithful husbands. He has allowed us to homeschool our children and teach them about his goodness. He has allowed us to live in a Country where we are free to worship him as we please. He is faithful, wonderful,  holy and good God. We do not deserve these blessings and yet in his kindness and mercy he bestows them upon us. He sends rain and sunshine upon the just and the unjust. He sends us children to give us joy and hope for the future. Even if our wombs are empty he blesses us with children to love and care for through adoption. He gives us grandparents who love and adore their grandchildren. He gives us grandparents to love and care for as well. He gives us wonderful books to read and blesses us with happy joy filled days in cozy homes. Above all he gives us his word,  the Holy Bible,  to use as our compass and guide during our journey in this world. He gives us his salvation through the ultimate sacrifice of his only Son. There are no words that can adequately express how good He is to us. This Thanksgiving I sing out Hallelujah….Hallelujah….Praise His Holy Name.

The Reformation

Today my boys and I watched part IV of Francis Schaeffer’s  series How Then Shall We Live. We are not of the Lutheran faith but we are so grateful to Martin Luther.  If not for his passion for the word of God…if not for his boldness and tenacity, we would all be working out our salvation through paying indulgences. The Lord used him to open the doors for the average person to read the Bible and worship the Lord on his own. Martin Luther helped bring about freedom to those who were in bondage to a church system and religion.  He taught us that God’s word is supreme and that the just shall live by faith alone.  He taught us that Christ was indeed all we needed in order to be saved.  Fix yourself a cup of tea or coffee and take this in…I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. ~ Anne  (Turn the music off 😉 )

Should Christians be involved in politics?

Do you know what I secretly desire to do?  I want to move to the country and have a little house and a garden.  I want to read books, and make strawberry jam and play my guitar.  I want to make quilts and gather herbs from my garden to dry and make into aromatic wreaths.  I want to have friends over for tea and just laugh and talk and sing.  I want to work on projects around the house and watch movies with my husband.  I want to play scrabble with my boys and try new recipes with them.  I want to learn to make quilts.  I want to listen to my children  play the piano.

I’m selfish.  I don’t want to talk about politics at all, and I have no desire to be privy to all the evil that’s going on right now. I want to let all the progressives do their thing and face the consequences of their sin.  I’m like Jonah.  I don’t want to warn anybody about anything. I’m not brave or self-sacrificing like our founders were.  I’m not like Abigail Adams or Martha Washington.  If not for them….if not for the Christians we would not have a United States of America at all.

The Sack Lunch

I received this in an email and it touched my heart so deeply that I wanted to share it with you all. This story reminded me of a time that my boys and I stopped at Carls’s Jr. for lunch one day.  It was crowded and the kids from the local highschool were all hanging out there.  These kids were boisterous and rude. They were dressed like punks with their pants falling down.  I  made my boys hold my hand because I was sort of  frightened by the rowdy behavior of the teens.  Standing in striking contrast to the teens was   a young soldier who was waiting for his order.   He was clean cut and handsome.  The contrast between this self controlled neat looking soldier and the punkish kids was so remarkable that I never forgot it. It almost seemed like he did not belong there…as if he stepped out of another culture somewhere in time.  I wanted to to shake the soldiers  hand and thank him.  I wanted to buy him lunch, but I was too shy.  My own insecurities kept me from doing the right thing.  I will always regret this, and now whenever I see a soldier, I stop and thank them.  Next time I’m buying him lunch. ~Anne

The Sack Lunch

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. ‘I’m glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will get a short nap,’ I thought.

My Favorite Cookies~Easy & Delicious

These cookies are soft, chewy, dark, delicious, and super easy to make.

Chewy Chocolate Cookie

Blend Together

1 1/4 c. Butter softened

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 teas. vanilla

2 c. flour

Add

3/4 c. cocoa (Hershey’s is best)

1 teas, baking soda

1/2 teas. salt

1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Bake at 350 for 8-9 minutes.  Do not overbake but take them out and let finish baking on cookie sheet out of the oven.  Makes 4 1/2 dozen

Peanut Butter Cookies

Super easy and a favorite of my dear  husband.

1 c. butter (softened)

1 c. peanut butter                  

1 c. sugar

1 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla

2 1/2 c. flour

2 t. baking soda

1/2 teas. salt

Bake @ 375 10-12 min. Makes 6-8 dozen

Cake Mix Cookies (Easy & Fun)

Any Cake Mix

2 Tbsp water

2 eggs

1/2 c. oil

1 Tsp. extract (vanilla, orange, almond other)

1/2 c. nuts (optional)

Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired

For chocolate cake mix you can use almond extract

For yellow cake use vanilla or lemon

Oatmeal Cookies

These are my favorite!

3/4 c. butter ( can add apple sauce in place of 1/2 c. butter)

1 c brown sugar

Pre-Election Blues

Probably because of the election coming up on Nov 2, I’m feeling very distracted and somewhat melancholy these days.  I’m not as heavy-hearted as I was the day after the last Presidential election, but I guess my pessimistic nature is sensing gloom and doom for our America.  Because of the apathy and lack of knowledge I see in my own circles as well as in the media,  I feel as though the progressives will probably be able to continue with their evil agenda for America.  I feel like we are on a sinking ship and no one cares to know,  or even talk about it.
I’m not saying that I have all this understanding….I’m ashamed of myself as well,  but I am desperate to learn and always willing to talk, listen, pray, and read about what’s going on in our country right now.  Most importantly, I am willing to take 20 minutes to fill out my sample voter ballot and vote!!  I heard today that the elections in in Afghanistan (where you could face death) have a 98% voter turn out.  What is wrong with us!!!

For reasons that dumbfound me, many Americans do not vote. However, the average  hardworking American family, although lacking an Ivy league education, knows right from wrong and we know when we have been duped.  We know that this administration is not looking out for us.

Made in the USA

John Smith started the day early,
having set his alarm clock (MADE IN JAPAN) for 6 am.

While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA) was perking,
he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG),
and put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA),
designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE) and
tennis shoes (MADE IN KOREA).

After cooking his breakfast in his new
electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA),
he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO),
to see how much he could spend today.

After setting his watch (MADE IN TAIWAN)
to the radio (MADE IN INDIA),
he got in his car (MADE IN JAPAN),
filled it with GAS (from SAUDIA ARABIA)
to continued his search for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.

At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day
checking his Computer (made in MALAYSIA),
John decided to relax for a while.

He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL),
poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE)
and turned on his TV (MADE IN INDONESIA),

and then wondered why he can’t find
a good paying job in AMERICA.

Perhaps we need to change our life styles a bit in order to support businesses right here in the USA.  I’m going to try to at least begin making small changes in our purchasing in order to help our America survive.  I have not ordered from any of these companies or used any products listed here except for Cabela’s,  New Balance shoes, and a few others.  ~Anne

Granola-to-go-bars

I found this recipe in Taste of Home magazine.  These bars look delicious and are packed full of  wholesome and healthy ingredients.  I’m going to make some up soon.

5 1/2 c. quick-cooking oats

1 c. chopped almonds

1 egg beaten

2/3 c. melted butter

1/2 c. honey

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 c. sunflower kernels

1/2 c. flaked coconut

1/2 c. chopped dried apples

1/2 c. dried cranberries

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Combine oats and almonds in a greased baking pan and bake for 15 minutes at 350.  Combine egg, butter, honey and vanilla.  Stir in sunflower seeds, coconut, apples, cranberries, brown sugar and cinnamon.  Stir in oat mixture.  Press into a 15×10 in. baking pan coated with cooking spray or butter.  Bake at 350 for 15-18 min. until edges are lightly browned.  Cool on a wire rack.  Cut into bars.  Store in airtight container.  Makes 3 dozen.  130 calories, 2 gms fiber, 16 carbs, 2 gms protein.

Sally Haen -Wisconsin

And Can It Be That I Should Gain

I just love to worship the Lord  with music,  and I enjoy many styles of music.  In my opinion though,  the old hymns are  so deep and  full of food for our hungry souls.  If we can slow down a bit, and listen carefully to the words….drink them in,  and know that they are  rich in doctrine and full of praise, we will be nourished and ministered to.  I enjoy some of the modern worship tunes,  but these old hymns take me up to heaven sometimes!!  As this choir sings,  listen to the words of this one by Charles Wesley.  Even though it was written so long ago,  it’s message is timeless and can minister to us today in our modern  world.  God’s love for us is indeed amazing.  My heart is overwhelmed and filled with Joy when I take these words in.   I hope you will enjoy this hymn as much as I do.  My boys are always calling me a cry baby….and I am.  I can hardly get through this one without blubbering.  Let me know how you do. 🙂  (Don’t forget to turn the website music off before listening)  Blessings,  Anne


And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior’s blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

The Bigger the Government…The Smaller the Citizen

Dennis Prager makes difficult subjects easy to understand.  So much of this video is simply plain old common sense and yet we seem to need to be reminded of these  basic American values that were so deeply rooted in the hearts of  previous generations.  Most of our parents and grandparents knew this instinctively, but we need to be reminded and refreshed because we’ve been indoctrinated by professors,  the media,  and our  government schools. I hope you will enjoy this enlightening video as much as I did.  I’m going to have my children watch it as well.    Be sure to turn the music off.   ~Anne

Across Five Aprils~Irene Hunt

Across Five Aprils is one of those books that you see at curriculum fairs, in catalogs, and on homechoolers reading lists especially if they are studying the Civil War Era.

So, upon many recommendations, we read this book recently. Across Five Aprils is a sad book to read to your children.  It was not twaddle for sure,  and it got our family talking about the Civil war,  but because you become so acquainted with how a family is affected by the war, it is so very depressing and sad.

I don’t mind a sad book.  I like that melancholy feeling you get when you read certain books.  But if the book is going to be so sober, it must have a higher meaning or purpose in it. The only meaning I got out of  this book is that war is horrible and senseless.  It seems to me that God was mostly absent from this story, but there was plenty of sin, fear and hatred.  There was also kindness,  love, and mercy shown through the characters and also through President Lincoln.  If I had the inclination to become a Mennonite or Quaker pacifist this book might just make me want to join these denominations.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

These muffins are moist and delicious and a good treat to prepare and share with others.  Enjoy!

1 2/3 c. flour    
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. baking soda
1tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. sliced almonds
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup plain pumpkin
1/2 cup butter melted
1 cup chocolate chips

Brown almonds. Cool.     Mix Dry Ingredients.  Mix eggs and wet ingredients.

Stir in Chocolate chips and almonds and pour over dry ingredients.  Fold in with rubber spatula.  Bake 350

America: The Good Neighbor

This remarkable editorial, broadcast from Toronto, by Gordon Sinclair is worth sharing with you all. It is a good reminder to us during these days when it is almost unpopular to be proud of our Country.

This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there….I saw it!

When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.

The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, war-mongering Americans.

I’d like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplanes. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don’t they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon?

A Wife of Noble Character Who Can Find?

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.  

She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

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