Glitches, a Sign and TMI

I have missed you!!! I have been lost in a tangle of computer problems that have had me pretty much locked out of my own blog. I hesitate to claim a return just yet(this post is far from posted) as I am still using the same offending laptop and if I don't stand on my left foot and tilt to the right while humming Amazing Grace I am not sure I can post successfully. The good news is there is talk of a shiny new 'if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy' purchase in the future ;-) And.....speaking of purchases.....guess what is in our front yard??


Can you believe it?? I can't! It seems like we have talked about it for so long that it probably would never really happen. We have zero prospects that we are really leaning toward so without a doubt this will be the house that God provides. This is as it should be and truly I would not have it any other way! Now if you are in our area and know of a piece of property, you could be used of God to lead us that way perhaps so feel free to contact me.

Now that the update of sorts is taken care of I thought I would try something a little different today. As an avid blog reader I really enjoy getting to know the women behind the blogs I read - who they are, what they do, where they came from, that kind of thing. I certainly do not flatter myself to claim the status of being an overly interesting person, however, I do think we all have something that is worthy of sharing that on some level is of interest to others and so in that spirit I want to tell you a little more about me. Here's how I think this may work....I will get it started and you dear readers are invited to question me about anything your little hearts desire. I am typically a forthcoming person so I will not place any limits on the questions, I will however state a right of refusal if it may cause harm or discomfort to others.
Let's begin then shall we? I am 46 years old, I know I don't look it or act it most of the time, but it's true - I will turn 47 in October. I was born and raised in Toronto and moved to Alabama in 1994. I am a Southern Girl - Toronto is located in Southern Ontario, just a few hours from the US border in case you were unsure ;-) In my misspent youth there, I once touched a Bay City Roller outside of CHUM Radio in a mob when I was crushed up against the limo they were there leaving in....for those who are interested it was Les (who just happened to be my favorite...check out his site he is still around!!). He stuck his finger out of a crack at the top of the car window - I promptly passed out and made the front page of the paper that evening, tartan clad and happy.


Several years ago - about 4ish I began a journey to live a more traditional life. Why? God was leading me that way is all I have by way of explanation, it certainly was not the way I was raised. In the time that has passed between then and now I have acquired some skills and there are now things that I will never do the way I used to. I very very rarely buy store bought bread of any kind. My first piece of equipment/traditional living tool was a grain mill and there has been no looking back. I have made some down right awful bread over the years, but those loaves made bread crumbs or croutons and I moved on. I seldom have crouton bread now unless there is a nub of a loaf on the stale side and then it becomes a good candidate. I would never b-u-y croutons either! I also make yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, vanilla, ketchup, BBQ sauce, salad dressings, laundry soap, deodorant, soap, and the list goes on. I have begun growing and harvesting herbs and have been playing around with making teas and home remedies and using the herbs to scent and 'flavor' our soaps. There are so many homemaking skills that I want to pursue and will, one by one. I have boxes of old clothes (blue jeans and dress shirts mostly) that will with some favor become a quilt for our home in the country. I have also saved many of Wonder Boy's sweet little boy jeans and t shirts with the intention on making a quilt for him as well.
I struggle with my flesh daily and am so far from the woman that God has called me to be, that it is only when I reflect on where He has brought me from and how by His Grace Alone that I am where I am and blessed to be who I am doing what I am doing that I can find the stamina to not give up several times a day. There are plenty of stories that have woven together the tapestry that has become my testimony along the way.
In the interest of not prattling on too long. I will end here for now. Please leave a comment with your questions for me of email me if you prefer. I will continue to stand on my left foot and tilt and pray that I can find a way to get your answers to you!

Essentials for Life.......A Giveaway

I have the privilege of receiving complimentary books of my choosing from Thomas Nelson from time to time in exchange for my thoughts and reviews of those books. It occurred to me that it would be lovely to 'pay it forward' and share those books with you once I have fulfilled my commitment.

These are my impressions, thoughts and reactions to Essentials for Life by Marcia Ford. First and foremost, this is a book that is wonderfully suited to a daily devotional type read. It is organized in such a way that you can open it and go when time is not laying out endlessly in front of you. Concise 2-3 pages chapters like Extend Grace to Everyone, Catch a Glimpse of Eternity or Enlarge Your Sphere of Influence are wonderful ways to give your heart something to process as you go through the day. It is rich with scripture references and quotes to get you thinking - I love it when the written word compels me to dig, search and seek things of God on a deeper level, don't you? The book is subtitled 'Your Back-to-Basics Guide to What Matters Most', which is does an admirable job of getting your focus on. This is a book filled with little gems that you can take out and enjoy in your quiet time each day, but that will stay with you well beyond that portion of your day. Throughout the book each chapter includes a sidebar entitled "Interesting to Note...One of the most important steps you can take in dealing with your past is forgiving yourself. Numerous studies on forgiveness have shown that people who forgive themselves heal more quickly from emotional trauma than those who do not. That includes victims, who seemingly have no need to forgive themselves." Each of these entries are paired with a scripture, in this particular example Psalm 74:12 AMP reads Let now the downtrodden return in shame; let the oppressed and needy praise your name. Each chapter concludes with "What's Essential" and goes on to list 2 do's and 2 don'ts that apply. This is a wonderful book to have in your quiet time place and to work through as the Lord leads you.
If you would like to have my copy in your quiet time place, please leave a comment for one entry or follow me for an addtional entry and I will draw the winner randomly a week today on March 16th.
Bonne chance mes amis ;-)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Who's In Charge?

If you read this blog with any kind of regularity, I think it would be safe to conclude that family matters to you, so with that in mind, please allow me to step out of that polite place of hospitality for a moment and get a little political with you if I may ;-) Remember, I love y'all, really, in fact, it is because I love you that I am sharing this today. The American family is in danger! Really. If we are not diligent to guard against what the enemy seeks to steal, kill and destroy the American family as we know it will become merely a part of our history. I use the term 'American' not as a distinction exclusive to those living in the United States of America, but to also include those who live in a cultural climate like the one we have here. It stands to reason that our beloved neighbors (neighbours) to the North are absolutely part of what I want to share today - in fact if you don't know - I am one of you ;-) My first 30 years were spent North of the border in Toronto ;-) Ok so now that we have all the clarification out of the way, let's move on shall we? ;-)

The Child, a documentary that airs tonight seeks to address the decline and crisis of the American family.......

About The Child

What happens if our children's future is taken into the hands of the government? Watchman Cinema's 85-minute documentary The Child: America's Battle for the Next Generation unveils a quiet attack against the deep bond between parent and child in American law and culture. A new wave is gathering force: the belief that parents should not have the final say in the upbringing and education of their children.

What does this mean for America? It means that parents' rights and responsibilities on behalf of their children are gradually being taken over by the government. Parents have less and less freedom to opt their children out of sexual education in public school, make medical decisions for their children, or teach their children their most deeply held religious beliefs. Parents are even being arrested and prosecuted when their choices conflict with what government authorities think is in the best interests of their children. This also means that children can no longer trust that their interests are being represented by parents who know and love them, but instead by strangers from the government.

But a diverse group of concerned citizens is fighting back: lobbying for a Parental Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In the words of parenting expert John Rosemond, this is "a cause that protects the liberty of every American."

The Child presents a sweeping and sobering picture of the child-parent bond in America, along with what we can do to protect this fundamental relationship. Parental rights are no longer viewed as they once were in our society and that my friends is dangerous ! It is time that we get our heads out of the sand and open our eyes to what is going on around us. Our children deserve that, our grandchildren deserve that and our Father in Heaven requires it! The organization Parental Rights does a great job of keeping up with issues around the nation and I would certainly encourage you to explore their site, sign up for their emails and by all means support them if you feel led. There is much we can do, we may not can fix the world, but we can surely begin to work in that direction by making efforts in our homes and by spreading awareness of an issue that has become disguised as acceptable in our culture today. It is our job Mom and Dad to raise our kids, not the government, any government.