Fall

Feather Our Nest

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I got an email from Gooseberry Patch yesterday. (Click here if you’re interested in reading their mail.) The picture above was at the top of the email. It was a reminder that it is indeed September and fall decorating is around the corner, along with cooler weather, chili on the stove, football games, pumpkins, caramel apples and hot cider.

Are you familiar with the Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks? You often find them at Cracker Barrel. I love looking at them, though I don’t own one (yet), but I pour over them when I find them in the stores. They’re full of good recipes, but also helpful tips and creative ideas.

Here was a good fall wreath idea I think I’ll try. I’m going to look into using silk mums instead of the fresh ones:


Love it!

A little birdie told me that Hobby Lobby has their fall wreaths 1/2 off this week, so if you don’t want to fuss with making your own, I’ll bet you could find a sweet deal there!

Another seasonal book series I love are the ones bySusan Branch. I ordered her fall book on Amazon a couple of years ago. I love it for the beautiful pictures she’s drawn, the cozy ideas, and yummy recipes. Here’s the cover from Amazon:

If you like good inspiration for the fall season, you need to find copies of these books! I get most all my books through Amazon and have gotten super deals!

Do you have plans for decorating for fall? Will you make a new wreath? Buy pumpkins and gourds? What is your favorite way to decorate for the season?

They say the high on Saturday is going to be 76 degrees here in East Tennessee, so it sounds like fall is just around the corner!
See you in church Sunday!
Love,
Christian Life

His Way or Mine?

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Every wise parent knows that you have to give your child the outcome of what will happen if they disobey, but we’ve all heard parents say things lamely in public like, “If you do that again you’re going to be in trouble!” By their careless attitude, we know nothing’s going to happen. The child knows nothing’s going to happen. And even the parent knows nothing’s going to happen – except that they might give another warning in a louder voice. However, when God gives a warning in His Word, we can bank on it – He will follow through with what He says; not because He is a mean God, but because He loves us and disciplines us as a Father disciplining His children.

A part of my daily devotions is to read the Proverb that corresponds to the day of the month. Since yesterday was the first day of September, I read Proverbs 1 and was reminded of a warning given at the end of the chapter. Verses 30 and 31 says, They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. When God wants to discipline us, He lets us have our own way.

Some might think, “What’s wrong with that? That would be great to get my own way!” God let the Israelites have their own way, remember? They complained about the manna He sent them because they wanted meat. So God gave them what they wanted and sent them quail. It made them sick while it was being chewed between their teeth. Later, Israel wanted a king, though that wasn’t what God wanted for them. He warned them what it would be like, but they wouldn’t listen, so God gave them Saul who was exactly as God said he would be and the people suffered as a result. Jonah got what he wanted as did Judas, and we all know the awful results. They got their way that destroyed them (or almost) instead of God’s way that would have been full of blessing.

Okay, so what does that have to do with you and me? How often I want my own way instead of God’s! How about you? Here are a few instances in which we’re tempted to go our our direction instead of the Lord’s:

  • If we don’t like a decision our husband’s made or something he is doing, we are tempted to jump ahead of him, take charge and not submit.
  • If we need something now and don’t have the money, we’re tempted to put it on a credit card instead of waiting on God to provide it in His way and time.
  • If we’re praying for a person that needs to change, we may be tempted to play the role of the Holy Spirit instead of letting God deal with them.
  • We may try cover our sin when we know we’re guilty instead of confessing and making it right with God.

The list is endless because our sinful hearts lean that way, but oh, the wonder of letting God have His way instead! He does things in such a marvelous way. He does things exceeding, abundantly, above all we could ask or think! Eph. 3:20 Why would we want our own measly little way instead of that? Oh, may we each seek His way today and see the wonder of an omnipotent God working in our lives!

Let Him Have His Way with Thee

Would you have Him make you free, and follow at His call?
Would you know the peace that comes by giving all?
Would you have Him save you, so that you can never fall?
Let Him have His way with thee.

Refrain:
His pow’r can make you what you ought to be;
His blood can cleanse your heart and make you free;
His love can fill your soul, and you will see’
Twas best for Him to have His way with thee.

Would you in His kingdom find a place of constant rest?
Would you prove Him true in providential test?
Would you in His service labor always at your best?
Let Him have His way with thee.

—Cyrus S. Nusbaum, 1898

With love,

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Noteworthy Wednesday

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When I walk out to my box and find a letter or card with my name handwritten on it, I get excited! This past week I got two thank you cards – and they were so special to me. In a day when electronic messages are more popular than Popsicles on a summer day, getting a real thank you note in the mail is extra-special!

This week I enjoyed reading an article in September’s Southern Living Magazine entitled, “Write a Charming Thank You Note.” There is no wrong way to write a thank you note, really, as long as your are writing one, but they shared five tips – let me share them as they were written in the magazine.

    1. Start with the date and salutation. Send you note written in black ink within a week of receiving a gift.
    2. Say thanks right off the bat. Be specific about why you are writing the note. If you’re thanking someone for a monetary gift, refer to their generosity rather than mentioning the amount.
    3. Compliment the kind gesture. Don’t be afraid to go over the top – everyone loves an effusive compliment, as long as it’s heartfelt.
    4. Allude to the future. Anticipate another get-together, or if you’re writing about a gift, be sure to tell them how you plan to use it.
    5. Finish with sincere regards. reiterate your gratitude, then close the letter on an intimate note, signing your first and last name. Don’t forget to proofread before you postmark!

On this Noteworthy Wednesday, tell us how you express thanks to someone. Do you still write a handwritten note, or do you prefer an e-mail, electronic cards, or a Facebook note? Do you use a special kind of card, homemade stamps, or pretty stationary to write on? Have you gotten real mail recently? Share any good tips or ideas on expressing thanks or sending cards.

Thanks!

Cooking

What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

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I got into a nesting mode Saturday. Maybe it was because Alli’s stuff had been moved out – I don’t know. I emptied the fridge and cleaned it and the freezer. I changed some of the decor in the kitchen. My herbs have done really well this summer, so I made a little display on the counter…

I love this picture that I found a couple years ago at a cute little shop…
I took some of my fresh herbs and made a bouquet for the kitchen table. It looks and smells so fresh! Thyme, basil, rosemary and parsley and mint will be ready to use for recipes since they’re sitting in water. I love this little wire basket – I use it for lots of different things (thanks, Whitney!)

Sunday dinner was just the two of us because:

  1. Alli’s back in college
  2. My husband had a nasty cold

However, I tried to make it as special as if we had a house-full.

Menu
Stuffed Peppers
Fresh corn
Carrot-Raisin Salad
Parmesan Bread

This recipe is really tasty, and if you don’t normally like stuffed peppers you need to try these. A dear lady at church shared her garden’s peppers with us and I couldn’t wait to make this recipe! The peppers are only boiled a few minutes, so they’re still crispy instead of boiled to death, and the filling is really yummy. Here’s the recipe:

Stuffed Peppers

2 large green peppers

8 ounces ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
1/2 cup long grain rice
1/2 cup water
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp dried basil, crushed
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Fresh basil leaves (opt)

Halve peppers lengthwise and remove stem ends, seeds and membranes. Immerse peppers into boiling water for 3 minutes. Invert onto paper towels to drain well.

In large skillet cook meat and onion till meat is brown and onion is tender. Drain off fat. Stir in the tomatoes, uncooked rice, water, Worcestershire sauce, basil and pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15 – 18 minutes or till the rice is tender. Stir in half of the cheese. Spoon meat mixture into peppers. Place peppers in an 8x8x2-inch baking dish. Spoon any remaining meat mixture into baking dish.
Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degree oven about 15 minutes or till heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Let stand for 1 to 2 minutes or till the cheese melts. If desired, garnish plate with fresh basil leaves. Makes 4 servings.

Being mostly empty nesters (Alli is home about a total of two months in a year now), can I just say again, that this is God’s plan? I am amazed at how many of our peers we run into when taking our daughter to school, and see that they’re struggling with having no children at home. I love my girls and I love it when they’re here, but you know what? Alone is the way we started out and it’s the way it will end up, and we are okay with that. Our friends look at us with horrified expressions when we tell them that we’re adjusting to and even enjoying this phase of our lives. Dinners should still be served with careful attention and love, just as they were when all the family was gathered around the table. The house needs fresh touches and decor so that our husband knows we care about him.

Don’t fold up and die when your children are gone! If your family is young right now, start preparing yourself for the day when they will leave. You do that by leaving them with a babysitter and go out on a date regularly. Every couple of years, leave for more than a day and have a vacation alone. Sorry if I sound like a broken record on this subject, but I keep running into this at every turn, so I just have to address it! 🙂 I learned this lesson from my parents. They’ve been great examples to me of keeping their marriage alive, and enjoying each phase of life as it comes along. I am asking the Lord to help me do the same.

Have you and your husband had a special date lately? What did you do?

What’s been cookin’ in your kitchen lately?

With love,
Parenting

The Stuff of Life

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This is what it looks like at the end of the hall in my house…

Alli has been packing to prepare to leave today to head back to college. There are:
cleaning supplies for the dorm room, dishes for meals eaten in the dorm, coffee pot for late night studying and early morning classes, umbrella (spite the fact that the torrential rains will blow sideways and the umbrella won’t help much), music for piano lessons, collapsible clothes hamper for the never ending laundry…

notebooks and paper for homework and projects,
a kitty to keep you company while you pack up, and to hinder you from packing your favorite pair of jeans…

a shoe bag to save space in the shared closet, stackable drawers for extra stuff that won’t fit in the dresser…

and of course suitcases for clothes, a picture album of the family, and the long-loved stuffed animal.

All this (and more not pictured) is packed up for the nine months of college life. Alli will be a sophomore this year and feels a little more prepared for college life than she did this time last year! Yep, this is the stuff of college life.

As my husband has been teaching on Sunday nights about discipline in the home, I thought about the discipline it takes the parent to train a child. There’s so much to teach them, and I’m not referring to homeschool. I’m talking about the every day things – the stuff of life that need to be discussed with our children before they leave home.

Proper table manners, etiquette, respect for elders, submission to authority, meal preparation, laundry instructions, how to iron, how to respond when dating, dating standards, biblical convictions and doctrines…the list seems endless when we consider what we should be teaching our children. These are conversations you have with them in the routine things of life – while you’re driving in the car, sitting and having lunch at McDonald’s, or tucking them into bed at night. That’s what Deuteronomy 6:7-9 is teaching…And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

I am amazed at how few parents teach their children the facts of life. If this is not taught by the parents, (mostly incorrect) information will be picked up here and there in lewd chats with friends. When girls approach puberty, take them alone to a special restaurant and talk with them about the upcoming changes. Make them understand God’s wonderful design and plan for their lives. Boys need chats with their father about how to treat a girl, how to be a gentleman, how to respond to girls in general.

When our children pack up to leave home, there should be tons more packed away in their hearts than stuffed in duffel bags in the back of the SUV! Begin today to teach them of the stuff of life!

With a heart of love,