~Commercial~

I thought take a moment to quickly share a link with you...

Homeschool Freebie of the Day

They send out an email every Monday with the info on a free resource each day for you to download. This week seems exceptionally good...sewing, coloring (creation science), laundry soap...go on over and check it out!

~Cute Dragons~

I finished up this cute little dragon set for my friend Val who is having her first little boy...I love how it turned out! This was my first time making a "tag blanket"...very fun!

~Guard Your Heart~

Over Memorial Weekend we had some special speakers...remember the Marines I talked about here...anyway,

One gave a little story about guarding your heart/home. I often picture a gate or a wall around a heart with this verse. I now have a more active, participating picture in my mind and I thought I'd share it:-)

He explained that his house was locked up and he and his wife were heading to bed...when he heard a strange noise at the back door. Long story short, someone was trying to break in!!! Being a Marine, he had some "tools" that most of us don't and stood at the back door ready to protect his home and family.

Is that how active I am in protecting my home??? Just putting up walls isn't enough...locking the doors isn't enough either!

We have had some recent sermons that have kept bringing this thought to my mind. What we see and hear really can have an effect on our walk with God...and more importantly on our children! Am I guarding them in this active way???...I do not yet know where all their weaknesses are. I may be able to overlook something but they may not be able to.

Proverbs 4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

~Catching up...~

...on rest :-)



Saturday night was eventful in our house. We had a fairly big rain storm come through and our normally wet basement turned into a basement with rivers and fountains! Gregg and I worked together until 12:30 am keeping the water from rising too much. It is continuous work for two as the water was coming in like a faucet. It doesn't do this often...but when it does...ughh!

Gregg had to remind me that we could be thankful we still had electric and a big supersized vaccum to keep the water moving out!

Anyway, it has taken a few nights and naps to catch up on some sleep!


I picked our first onion on Monday...

and six quarts of beans on Tuesday...

It was so relaxing to sit in the shade on the back patio and snap beans in the afternoon! I canned my beans...for the first time. I usually freeze them.


I am caring less and less about my to do list and getting more and more ready to sit and snuggle a newborn. This has certainly been an easier pregnancy for me and for that I am so thankful!

With that said...I'm going to go lie down:-)

~Mint~

I have been bummed to not be drinking mint tea. My iron levels seem to have risen and I'd like to keep it that way! I'd rather have energy then tea...but bummer!

Anyway, it was starting to flower and get overdone. A friend was over and she told me to freeze it!?!?!?! Never thought of that! I washed it, let it dry and bundled it in plastic bags and put it in the freezer. That will be a nice treat this winter!!!!

My mother in law gave me the idea to make mint jelly (thank you!) Did you know, you don't need pectin for mint jelly!!! It is very important to watch your temp...or you will get gooey candy type stuff...like I did...
Ooops! I'll have to try again! It tastes wonderful:-) My boys were very encouraging and decided we could melt it with hot fudge and have it on ice cream!Now I'll be able to enjoy my mint all winter! I would have never "saved" any if I hadn't had an iron problem! Next week, I'm planning on drying some:-)

~Pickles~

We all picked...
Aaron washed...
Jordan and Jared cut...
I mixed...
and canned...

Now we must wait 4-6 weeks to try them! I have never made pickles before...very fun!

~Grace...again~

I posted last Sunday about my Quieting a Noisy Soul study reguarding grace. I tried to concentrate on that topic throughout the week. I went back through verses and hymns in my mind each day. I have certainly found that when I am struggling it is because I am not asking for His grace...not that He doesn't provide enough! I just wanted to share the one song that seemed to really grab me...

On occasion, our Assistant Pastor will take a hymn and match it up to all kinds of Bible verses. I really appreciate that, so I thought I'd try it with this hymn...that is what all those small fonts are (along with my thoughts).

Jesus Paid It All

I hear the Savior say,

(Am I listening - He that hath ears to hear, let him hear Mat 11:15)

Thy strength indeed is small!

(What I do I shouldn't I do, what I should do I don't Rom 7:15)

Child of weakness, watch and pray,

(Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is

willing but the flesh is weak Mat 26:41)

Find in me thine all in all.

(Do a search on all those wonderful "I am" verses!

light, bread, door, shepered, way, truth, life)

Lord, now indeed I find

(Seek and you will find Me Prov 8:17 - He is not going to hide it from us!)

thy pow'r, and thine alone,

(Jesus said - All power is given unto me Matt 28:18- That's a lot of power!)

Can change the leper's spots

(Jesus healed many lepers)

and melt the heart of stone.

(Is not my word like as a fire...and a hammer that

breaketh the rock in pieces Jer 23:29)

(remove heart of stone and give heart of flesh Eze 36:26)

For nothing good have I

(All our rightousness is like filthy rags Is 64:6)

Where-by Thy grace to claim -

(We can come boldly to the throne! Heb 4:16)

I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calvarys Lamb.

(many vereses about white robes...especially in Rev)

And when before the throne

(I always picture falling down before Him...can you imagine standing...

only by the blood of Christ!)

I stand in Him complete

(Not only standing but complete!!!?!? - What a thought that is!)

Jesus died my sould to save
My lips shall still repeat

(I should be repeating these words for all to hear...even now!...especially now!!!)

Chorus
Jesus paid it all, All to him I owe;
Sin had left a drimson stain-
He washed it white as snow.



Here was my favorite verse...

Heb 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."