Taking Stock, vol. II

Making: a fox scarf for my brother
Cooking: lots of chicken stock. We have too much.
Drinking: ice water. aaah.
Reading: more Mitford books.
Wanting: a fitbit.
Looking: forward to seeing Joseph (again) at Sight and Sound.
Playing: nothin'.
Wasting: time. duh.
Sewing: nothing, again.
Wishing: our schedule had more room for friends. le sigh.
Enjoying: reviewing Spanish--I didn't forget everything!
Waiting: for the show this evening (as stated above).
Liking: all the birthday cake we've had around recently.
Wondering: if I should sleep or make myself walk on the treadmill. Hmm. Maybe both.
Loving: my littlest niece's sweet smile and my eldest niece's chattering.
Hoping: the hawk doesn't get any of the chickens. He has returned...
Marveling: how similar my Mom and her sister are: the way they pronounce certain words, which words they put stress on, how they play with their hair, etc.
Needing: a nap.
Smelling: heat (when I step out of the lovely, air-conditioned house, that is).
Wearing: cute headbands.
Following: where my stomach leads. Which usually means cheese or something.
Noticing: how hunched over I am while typing this. *straightens*
Knowing: I should be practicing voice lessons.
Thinking: I probably won't.
Feeling: a little guilty.
Bookmarking: articles about GMO's.

Taking Stock, vol. I

Making : plans for this school year. Aaaall the plans.
Cooking : lots of cookies for company this weekend. Oh wait, that's baking. So why are they called cook-ies?
Drinking : Ginger Peach tea, chocolate smoothies, and plain 'ole water.
Reading: A Light in the Window (Jan Karon), The Westminster Confession (a bunch of men a long time ago), and David Copperfield (Charles Dickens).
Wanting: cinnamon raisin bread.
Looking: forward to fall.
Playing: Nothing at the moment. 
Wasting: time on the internet. Instagram is my bane.
Sewing: nothing, but I have lots of things I want to sew.
Wishing: I had some sheep, kittens, or goats (don't tell the chickens).
Enjoying: waking up earlier, which means I get more done.
Waiting: for school to start. 
Liking: ummm...cute pictures of my nieces.
Wondering: Why two of my chickens were squawking frantically yesterday evening.
Loving: the last bit of summer.
Hoping: for a good school year (pSATs--yikes!)
Marveling: at all the truths in the Westminster Confession.
Needing: breakfast.
Smelling: bacon.
Wearing: my fuzzy robe.
Following: Live Simply blog. It's for all those frugal, real foodies out there. 
Noticing: a hummingbird out in the garden.
Knowing: Jesus loves me, this I know.
Thinking: about all the cleaning and cooking I have to help with today. The aforementioned company, you see.
Feeling: hungry.
Bookmarking: cute dresses. :)

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I thought this was a fun idea. I might make it a regular thing on the weekends, though I'm not putting pressure on myself. During the school year it will be nice to take a break from stuff, sit down, and just review my week.

YXL 2015

It has been a month since this wonderful youth conference. I made so many new friends, strengthened old friendships, and cannot wait to go back. Here's a summary of what went on. :) Go team C, I miss all of you!

learning lab challenges, hour long Bible study and prayer time, teabagging, late night games of Body-Body, pygmies, guitars everywhere, peanut M&Ms, hiking the AT, blindfold jokes, Geneva and Kari wailing Taylor Swift in the bus, skipping Mike in phase 10, Heather rapping, microwave gatherings, teary and real debrief time, mystery meat, team care, worship, Kiwi and Geneva ('nuff said), chicken dance and I'm-a-little-teapot, cake smashing, Kelly rockin' the electric slide, spotting, Kiwi's gum, Tyler's foot, stretch, climb, reach, grow, so much more.

Curiouser and curiouser....

Ladies, gentlemen, children of all ages! Come and see the curious adventures of Alice in Wonderland (musical style)! 

Go to the website for more details

Muesli

Muesli (/ˈmjuːzli/ or /ˈmuːzli/; Swiss German: Müesli [ˈmyəsli], Standard German: Müsli [ˈmyːsliː]) is a breakfast dish based on raw rolled oats and other ingredients including grains, fresh or dried fruits, seeds and nuts, and may be mixed with cow's milk, soy milk, almond milk, yogurt or fruit juice.  (from Wikipedia)

My Mom used to make muesli from time to time. And I'm not talking about dry muesli, I mean fresh, overnight-oats muesli. I didn't like it then.

And then, six or seven years later, I've been craving more comforting breakfasts. That's kind of hard to do when you don't eat grains. Oatmeal, fresh bread, and dutch babies are out the window. However, necessity(ish) is the mother of invention and there are many grainless versions of all those things cluttering up the web. I remembered the funny-smelling, porridge-like thing Mom used to make, and decided to give it a go. Behold, a muesli recipe to add to the collection!

Grain-free Muesli:

Serves roughly 3 people...odd number, I know

2 c. yogurt

1 apple, grated 

1 small carrot (or half a large one), grated

1/3 c. shredded coconut

1 t. cinnamon

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and cover tightly. Place in fridge overnight. In the morning, serve in priceless china and top with nuts, raisins, and whatever else takes your fancy.

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oh, and yes, I am eating dairy now! I can't handle a glass of milk (raw or pasteurized), but I'm eating more than my fair share of yogurt and cheese...and the occasional scoop of ice cream. :) Thanks to BB's, we have boatloads of all the grass-fed, organic, snooty yogurts at a cheap-o price. 

Lamp and Sword

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
-Psalm 119: 105

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
-Hebrews 4:12

I often put off doing Bible reading. It is hard to see the point in plowing my way through all the minor prophets. They just say the same thing, over and over and over again. I don't want to sit down and study the Word, but I also know that I should. Why should I?

As Psalm 119 says, it is lamp to my feet. It will guide me through life. If I am dwelling in the word every day, and (unconsciously) soaking up its truths, during times of tribulation I will remember encouraging verses or the different promises God has made. 

The Word is sharper than a two edged sword. Even though I am going through the slightly repetitive minor prophets, the Holy Spirit has convicted me about all sorts of things, where I hadn't looked for them. I shouldn't underestimate the power of God and His Scriptures.

Sometimes I get discouraged when not everyday is a grand revelation. If I don't read something life altering (hee) every single time, I think it isn't "working". God doesn't stick to our plans, though. As C.S. Lewis said about Aslan, "he isn't a tame lion." 

Thank you for listening to my rambly post. :)

"Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were true."
-Acts 17:11

30 days of beautiful: day 30

~happy to have a homestead~

I am really glad to have our lil' farm. Well, chickens and a vegetable garden. :) I'm glad we can provide our own eggs and some of our produce. It really is a joy to take care of the hens and garden. I love being in the sunshine picking beans, searching for strawberries, or laughing at the chickens' antics. I have beauty in my backyard everyday.