Rise and Swine

WooHooooo!!!   God has answered our prayers.  Ellianna, the precious baby I have listed on my side bar is finally home!  I have been waiting to post an update as things have been touch and go for quite some time.  But I just got word that she is eating on her own and was able to make the journey home a few days ago.  I am SOOOOO excited for her and her sweet family!  I'm sure their hearts are overflowing with joy.  Thank you so much for your prayers!  Please continue to pray as I'm sure there will be more hurdles to overcome in the future - But thank God for her recovery! Life can be difficult.  Sometimes it's easy to dwell on the pain that surrounds us...at times it seems impossible to escape negative feelings.  I know many of you are going through your own heartache...struggling to hold on.  I want to remind you that our Saviour  IS alive.  He sees and cares about...

Beware!  Natural does  NOT always equal good.  Yikes!  Definitely not one of my best moments... As many of you know - I've been on a quest for all things natural - from cleaners to hygiene products and everything in between.  We've stopped using shampoo, store bought soap (for the most part) and all those nasty household cleaners.  Yet, on occasion I pull out my stash of bleach.  I know my inner bleach queen needs to be buried...but it's a work in progress. Anyhoo, switching to a natural deodorant was of the utmost importance.  However, it quickly became clear that purchasing such a product was going to stretch our budget beyond comfortable limits.  I know what your thinking...but with teen boys we have...well...what can I say?  A great challenge before us that requires much of this sweet smelling substance.  So, after some thought I decided to google it.  How hard could it be to make my own?...

With a grateful heart... Happy Easter!!! I am the thorn in your crown But You love me anyway I am the sweat from Your brow But You love me anyway I am the nail in Your wrist But You love me anyway I am Judas' kiss But You love me anyway See now I am the man who yelled out from the crowd For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking ground Yes then I turned away with a smile on my face With this sin in my heart, tried to bury Your grace And then alone in the night I still call out for You So ashamed of my life, my life, my life But You love me anyway Oh God, how You love me Yes You love me anyway It's like nothing in life That I've ever known Yes You love me anyway Oh Lord, how You love me   Until then... Jessie

I wanted to share this with y'all.  I'm not sure where this recipe/idea originated from, but a friend gave it to me many years ago.  Thanks, Mary!  Since that time it's something I've done with our children every year.  Part of our Easter celebration they look forward to - and while they're having fun cooking with mom they're also learning about the cost Jesus paid to give us the gift of salvation.  I'm sure many of you have made these before but I wanted to share for those that hadn't.  Hope y'all enjoy! Resurrection Cookies: To be made on the evening before Easter. 1 Cup whole pecans 1 tsp. vinegar 3 egg whites  pinch of salt 1 cup sugar zipper baggie wooden spoon tape Bible Preheat oven to 300 (this is important- don't wait until you're half done with the recipe). Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arr...

WooHoo!!!  I can't believe Easter is in a few days.  Time flies when you're having fun!  We've been plenty busy 'round here getting things ready for our special celebration.  Easter is not about bunnies, dyeing eggs or baskets overflowing with candy.  It's about the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ!  However, I do find it fascinating that Spring is the time in which we celebrate His gift to us.  Even though Autumn is my favorite season...Spring is captivating.  Everything radiates with newness of life.  Days are filled with gusty winds...cute critters as they wake from their winter slumber...baby ducklings scurrying about...gorgeous trees in bloom...warm sunshine... peaceful April showers and of course tulips...my favorite!  It's such a refreshing time.  Filled with wonder, life and hope.   In our home Easter decor includes all things Spri...

First Course Berry Spinach Salad Tangy Asparagus Soup Main Course Slow Cooked Pot Roast with New Potatoes Marmalade Candied Carrots Freshly Baked Sour Dough Dessert Lemon Cheesecake Iced Tea Espresso This is the menu for our Easter celebration.  What do you have planned?   

Where's my dinner!  He demanded.  No, not my husband.  My piggy! Apparently pigs like a strict schedule or at least my pig does.  He wants to eat at precisely 5:30am and 5:30pm.  Well...the other day Jonah was late...by one hour.  Oh my word.  You haven't seen anything until you've seen an angry pig!  Boss decided when we brought his dinner he was goin' to give us a piece of his mind.  On a mission for revenge...he strategically placed his food bowl at the door of his house.  That way he would be woken up when we grabbed it and he could scold away. Thankfully, I had warned the kids about how territorial pigs are and told them never to get between a pig and his grub.  Jonah wasn't about to stick his hand right in front of that porkers face to grab the bowl.  His plan was to pull it away with a rake.  Smart kid.  The minute the bowl moved Boss Hogg was awake. Squealing and gruntin'...sc...

Wow.  It has been a  VERY  exciting morning!!!  A huge smile spread across my face as I cracked open the barn door and three new babies peeked out to greet me.  Triplets.  Soooo sweet!!  Oh.. baby goats have just stolen my heart... everything about them is pure cuteness.  My stress level has decreased tremendously now that they're all here safely, and Sally is doing great.  We now have 5 babies (4 girls and 1 boy) and two very proud mamas!  Well...three if you count me...  Sally and her kids  Oreo Emma Fudge    Unfortunately, I couldn't spend much time playing with our new additions.  We had an appointment with the  vet so we piled in the car and headed off.  The first round of baby goats needed to be dibudded (have their horns removed) and have the first round of vaccines.  Our trip was not a pleasant experience for me or my poor little goats.  Although t...

This little piggy went to market...this little piggy stayed home...this little piggy ate apples, bananas, cereal... Oh my.  He is gonna be a handful! Hey y'all!  I'm burstin' with excitement and couldn't wait to share the news!!!  Let me just say I LOVE pigs!  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  They are the cutest creatures ever.  I always told my husband one day...  Well, that day has come.  That's right..we have a piggy!  Boss Hogg is the name.  And he is one stubborn pig.  A bit grumpy, temperamental and quite rude too.  Our first meeting... lets just say he didn't make the best first impression.  The moment he met my husband he latched on to the tip of his shoe as if it was something to behead.  His good shoes!  I was in flip flops and man did my toes curl quickly!  I can just imagine what he would do with pretty red painted toenails.  Yikes! ...

If I saw You on the street And You said come and follow Me But I had to give up everything All I once held dear And all of my dreams Would I love You enough to let go Or would my love run dry,  When You asked for my life When did love become unmoving? When did love become unconsuming? Forgetting what the world has told me Father of love You can have me You can have me If Your all You claim to be Then I'm not losing anything So I will crawl upon my knees Just to know the joy of suffering I will love You enough to let go Lord I give You my life, I give You my life! When did love become unmoving? When did love become unconsuming? Forgetting what the world has told me Father of love You can have me You can have me! I want to be where You are! {You can have me} I'm running into Your arms! {You can have me} And I will NEVER look back! {You can have me} So Jesus here is my heart! When did love become UNMOVING? When did love become UNCON...