in the military not
rely solely upon the strength of their weapons and intelligence, but
first turn to You, Lord, the source of all wisdom and strength. Raise up
men and women of faith among all ranks of the military and give them
opportunity to witness to their fellow soldiers. (Matthew 8:5-12)
It has been a while since I've sat down to compile an actual post, you know, to talk to you and tell you as well as show you what has been happening around here.
Life has been, well, chaotic I think is a good word for us all to use. It is nothing like I ever thought I would see and at times I find myself completely perplexed at the situation we are living in.
Truthfully said, there is only one way out of this, and that is through Christ's love and grace. It is more than ever, important for us to inch closer to God, and if we don't have a strong relationship with Him, we may want to start looking into it. Sooner the better.
So I briefly mentioned in my Happy Homemaker Monday that we were dealing with some spiritual attacks, and I think that it's safe to say that many of us are going through the same. I've seen many friends and brothers and sisters in Christ, talking about this very same issue as well.
I was a mess the beginning of the week, but as I allowed myself to rest in God and not on myself or life around me, a sense of peace took over.
And so I turned from being a lost stumbling fool, to leaving it where it belongs, in His hands, and turning towards my family and home.
I have a few books coming in for review, which always make me happy. Is there anything like opening a book and allowing yourself to be carried away in it's pages?
This is the current read, The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton. I recently became acquainted with Lauren's books, I think I've review one or two of hers before. Easy, sweet stories that I much appreciate at the moment.
Candles have been another of my go to. Some people only burn candles in Fall and Winter, I'm a all year long candle burner. Just love the way they smell, love the way they look and the feeling they evoke when you walk into a room.
I've also been giving special attention to my house plants. I've now managed to successfully transplant and split up a few plants, and they are doing amazingly well. There is something about seeing the pretty new green shoots coming up that just gives you a warm feeling inside.
I am about to go and grab a cutting from my Arabian Jasmine plant, so that I can try and propagate more of them. It smells amazing. Jasmine, Hyacinths, Gardenia and Lilacs are my absolutely favorite flower scents.
Wouldn't mind living surrounded by a constant aroma of these gorgeous plants.
That's kind of my plan, to propagate as many as I can and then plant them all around my property.
The wildflowers I planted have started popping up. How gorgeous are these dark purple ones?
And likewise, our new Pear tree has started growing dozens of shoots. I couldn't be more excited at that prospect. We have a pear tree in the back along the property fence, but before we ever get any fruit the birds destroy it all. It is also in a very weird spot, not sure why it was planted there, but we don't want to move an established tree and risk killing it, so it will stay.
My veggie garden is also coming along. It's growing in leaps and bounds.
My potato plants are looking beautiful, look at that. Now this is my first year growing potatoes, and I didn't grow them from seed but rather from store bought potatoes that grew a ton of eyes. I planted 4 and I only one of the potatoes didn't take, I have 3 potato plants growing right now.
My zucchini is also growing so big. Tons of blossoms on it already. This weekend I actually need to stake the plants to get them growing vertically.
Likewise, my tomato plants are doing amazingly well too. I also need to cage them this weekend, it's easier to do while they are still small enough.
Overall, my garden is growing in leaps and bounds and I'm enjoying sitting back and watching it all come alive. Gardening is work, you do need to stay on top of it, but the rewards are so worth all the faffing around.
In ending this post, I want to ask you all to please pray for protection for our country and the President today. There are numerous prophets and Christians all over the world joining in today in deep prayer for our nation and the world in general. Cover yourself with the blood of Jesus, put on the full Armor of God and stay vigilant.
who serve in our
Congress and all elected officials across this country. Let them not be
distracted from governing by the lure of money, power or fame. Encourage
them to always stand for what is right and to faithfully serve those
who have put their trust in them. (Ecclesiastes 8:1-5)
to those who
would preside in our courts of justice. Let all judges and those who
work in our court system seek to preserve justice in a fair and
impartial way according to Your statutes. (Proverbs 2:6-8)
toward those who
would strike terror into the earth. (Ezekiel 32:22-25; Psalms 7:11-16)
Root out and bring terrorists to justice. Please show mercy, expose and
thwart terrorist schemes. Grant wisdom, discernment and protection to
all in authority working to prevent terrorist attacks.
Let all the
inhabitants of the United States stand in awe of Him. Blessed is the
nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom He has chosen as His
own inheritance. (Psalms 33:8, 12)
Good morning everyone, hope you've had a wonderful weekend.
Mine was a bit stressful, but I think right now we are all feeling it, suffering through it, and trying our very best to stay strong. Unfortunately in the middle of all this tension nationwide, our family is under some spiritual attack as well.
I am not going into details, but I do ask if you could please send some prayers our way, especially for my husband and his job. I am fully aware that God is in control and I KNOW that it will all be ok, but the human part of me still has a lot of learning to do, and so in times of uncertainty or stress, it tends to let fear overtake. Faith over Fear, that is what I have to constantly tell myself.
Anyway, I know I haven't been around much, not on here or Instagram, and I have actually deactivated my Facebook account. I'm not sure if I'll go back there, I've been off it for so long, and I really only log on for birthdays, so I don't think it really matters. Quite frankly I have thought of Facebook as a horrible cesspool for a very long time, and I think it may just be the right moment to get off it completely and turn even more to God.
I am really hoping to post on the blog more often as well, but then I always say that and then get sidetracked with life. Why does everything have to be so difficult right?
I feel like we are all out here just trying to breathe at the moment. Everything is so uncertain, so scary, so bleak. We know how this story ends though, with God winning, but it's getting through this dark valley that is difficult to do. Nonetheless let's pray without ceasing, let's hold each other up, let's really try to help our neighbors get through these times.
Goodness, I talked quite a lot, let's get on with our post for today.
Before we continue, just want to let you know that I'm starting a 31 Days of Prayer for America. I'll be doing it starting today, here on the blog, and also sharing over on my Instagram. Hope you will all join in.
♥♥The Weather♥♥
Pretty hot around here. Insane storms lately, tornado in our town on Friday, multiple trips to the storm cellar under the house. It's been just crazy. We have more thunderstorms today and the rest of the week.
♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥
I'm ok. I wish I could say great, but I'm a little tired and mentally exhausted. I think we all are.
♥♥On my mind♥♥
Our nation. I honestly don't want to go on and on about this because we're all feeling quite overwhelmed. But I am praying non stop, literally all day long I am praying and asking God for protection for my family and all the families in our country. What is happening is beyond surreal and I can tell you as someone who grew up in South Africa with this kind of violence, this is heartbreaking to me. Feeling like I am back in that kind of anxiousness is not something I ever thought I would feel living in this beautiful country.
♥♥On the breakfast plate♥♥
Just coffee right now, it is too early for me to have anything to eat.
♥♥On my reading pile♥♥
The Summer House by Lauren K. Denton.
♥♥On my tv♥♥
Nothing much. I haven't had the concentration to actually sit down and relax enough to watch anything.
♥♥From the camera♥♥
I have not picked up my camera much, the past week. I do have photos on there I need to edit, some food ones I need to post on the food blog etc. But, since I haven't taken any new ones, I'm just going to share this one from last week. I love aloe vera!
♥♥Looking around the house♥♥
I need to carpet clean sometimes this week, again. I'm trying to convince my husband to let me pull the carpets from the living room and dining room. They are high traffic areas, very light colored carpets and always look filthy no matter how much I clean them.
Aside from that, not much to do, house has been maintained clean and tidy.
♥♥Chore I'm not looking forward to today, or this week♥♥
Probably the carpet cleaning as it takes quite long to do.
♥♥To relax this week, I will♥♥
Pray, pray and pray. I am finding it very hard to relax and be able to do anything productive.
♥♥On my prayer list♥♥
The President. At this point, I really don't care if you are for or against the President, but you NEED to pray for him. He is the one with the ultimate control and we need him to get us through these devastating riots that are destroying our nation.
For all the innocent peaceful protesters who are being hijacked by the hooligans.
For the innocent bystanders being attacked.
For the business owners who are losing their livelihood.
For the innocent families having their neighborhoods looted and attacked.
♥♥Devotional/Bible Verse♥♥
“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and
pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from
heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”
Hardcover: 288 Pages Publisher: Thomas Nelson (May 5, 2020)
Explore how to live a life of joy and fullness, especially in the midst of disappointment and broken dreams.
How do you live a full life? Perhaps the better question is, how do you really live when life throws you sucker punches, when you face obstacles that seem to snuff out your faith, when you lose something or someone precious to you?
In The Fight to Flourish, Jennie Lusko encourages women to suit up and thrive, not just in the dailies of monotony and routine but even in the most desolate of places. Using the backdrop of her second-born daughter Lenya’s passing into heaven five days before Christmas in 2012, Jennie invites readers to embrace whatever destination they’ve landed.
She teaches how, through the good and the bad, they can learn to grow, be strong, draw near to God, and be a blessing to others. It is in this sacred space of pain and promise that women can begin to flourish.
Jennie Lusko serves alongside her husband, Levi, leading Fresh Life Church in Montana, Utah, Oregon, and Wyoming. They have five incredible children: Alivia, Daisy, Clover, Lennox, and Lenya, who is in heaven. The Luskos live in Montana, which boasts the largest snowflake ever recorded in history, one and a half times larger than a competition frisbee.
One of Jennie’s greatest joys and calling is sharing the hope and freedom found in Jesus to those stranded in sin. She feels most alive when she’s helping people and giving gifts.
REVIEW:
I want to begin by letting you know that I'm not quite finished with the book. I received it a little late, so didn't get as much to dive right in as much as I would have liked to.
Nevertheless, even though I'm not finished, I feel quite confident that I can review what I've read so far.
To put it simply, you need to get yourself a copy of The Fight to Flourish.
Jennie Lusko and her husband suffered a heartbreaking blow, when their 5 year old healthy daughter passed away unexpectedly. I can't even begin to put myself in their shoes, it is a pain that I have not experienced, and hope to never have to experience it.
What Jennie does is turn a tragic event into a way to flourish in her journey as a woman and a Christian.
I know from my own experience, that the moments we are in the storm, albeit the hardest and most painful at times, are also the moments where we learn and grow the most. It isn't easy to see the light on the other side, and so at times we give in to the pain or the grief.
Jennie encourages us all to stand firm in the love of Christ, to keep going, to push through, and to flourish. She uses her own journal entries to guide us and show us how to survive, to breathe through those times where it feels unbearable to even get out of bed.
Absolutely brilliant book that I believe any woman of faith, should have in her library.
Thank
you to TLC Tours and the Thomas Nelson publishers, for providing me
with a review copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.
Good morning everyone. I am sorry this is going up a little later than usual. It's been a crazy few days here at home. We have a barn cat that roams our property, and 3 days ago when Curt went out to the workshop, he found 5 baby kittens. Within a few hours the mother had taken them all, but one. We left it there in case she came back, but she never did, so we had to bring him in.
As you may know, I'm quite allergic to cats, so this has been interesting. The poor thing is so disoriented and it breaks my heart to know that it's mother abandoned him for no reason. He is quite healthy, full of energy.
But, it is a lot of work bringing a baby kitten inside. We are trying very hard to do everything we can but it's new territory to us all. Marley is not happy with this and though he's very sweet with the kitten and even afraid of it, he has regressed to peeing indoors. I am struggling because I'm allergic so anytime I am near the cat I'm itchy and uncomfortable. We are taking it to the vet on Wednesday, and are hoping to find a home for it in the meantime, because we can't have a cat at all.
Anyway, let me get this post up quick then I have to get ready to take my daughter to work.
♥♥The Weather♥♥
Insane storms lately, tornado in our town on Friday, multiple trips to the storm cellar under the house. It's been just crazy. We have more thunderstorms today and the rest of the week.
♥♥How I am feeling this morning♥♥
A bit tired if I'm honest. Haven't been sleeping too well. Also dealing with the cat allergies, so that's never fun, but overall I am good.
♥♥On my mind♥♥
Finding a home for this baby kitten. God has placed him/her in our care for the moment, but I can't have cats around, so I'll suck it up for the moment, but a permanent home needs to be found.
♥♥On the breakfast plate♥♥
Huge cup of coffee which has gone cold already as we were feeding and caring for the kitten. I'll have a toast with my homemade cream cheese, in a moment. Did I tell you I made homemade cream cheese? It is divine and so much better than store bought. I'll try to get the recipe up either later today or tomorrow.
♥♥On my reading pile♥♥
The Fight to Flourish by Jennie Lusko.
♥♥On my tv♥♥
Nothing, I am so behind on watching anything. Didn't get a chance last week to watch anything at all. ♥♥On the menu this week♥♥
Going grocery shopping on Friday, so only have meals planned until then.
Monday - Going to my brothers house for dinner Tuesday - Bangers and Mash, Roasted Squash Wednesday - Rotisserie Chicken, Garlic Potatoes, Salad Thursday - Not sure, need to check freezer Friday - Saturday - Sunday -
♥♥From the camera♥♥
The baby kittens. The one on the right is the one that was abandoned by the mama. So sad. But it is being loved on and fed and we will try our very best to raise a healthy baby kitten.
♥♥Looking around the house♥♥
I need to give it a good clean but haven't had a chance the past week. The house is clean and tidy, but I just want to give it a deep clean, haven't even done a Spring cleaning yet. I'm so far behind this year.
♥♥Chore I'm not looking forward to today, or this week♥♥
As always, the bathrooms. My least favorite room to clean in the house.
♥♥To relax this week, I will♥♥
Read and maybe catch up on tv.
♥♥On my prayer list♥♥
The President, our country.
♥♥Devotional/Bible Verse♥♥
"Forsake me not, O Lord."
Psalm 38:21
Frequently we pray that God would not forsake us in the hour of trial and temptation, but we too much forget that we have need to use this prayer at all times. There is no moment of our life, however holy, in which we can do without his constant upholding. Whether in light or in darkness, in communion or in temptation, we alike need the prayer, "Forsake me not, O Lord." "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." A little child, while learning to walk, always needs the nurse's aid. The ship left by the pilot drifts at once from her course. We cannot do without continued aid from above; let it then be your prayer today, "Forsake me not. Father, forsake not thy child, lest he fall by the hand of the enemy. Shepherd, forsake not thy lamb, lest he wander from the safety of the fold. Great Husbandman, forsake not thy plant, lest it wither and die. Forsake me not, O Lord,' now; and forsake me not at any moment of my life. Forsake me not in my joys, lest they absorb my heart. Forsake me not in my sorrows, lest I murmur against thee. Forsake me not in the day of my repentance, lest I lose the hope of pardon, and fall into despair; and forsake me not in the day of my strongest faith, lest faith degenerate into presumption. Forsake me not, for without thee I am weak, but with thee I am strong. Forsake me not, for my path is dangerous, and full of snares, and I cannot do without thy guidance. The hen forsakes not her brood; do thou then evermore cover me with thy feathers, and permit me under thy wings to find my refuge. Be not far from me, O Lord, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.' Leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation!'"
"O ever in our cleansed breast,
Bid thine Eternal Spirit rest;
And make our secret soul to be
A temple pure and worthy thee."
PLEASE stop sharing links that are not Happy Homemaker Monday
related. This linky is only for the participants of this Monday
feature. I am actually getting tired of having to go through and delete
links to random blog posts. Be respectful!!!
