Take My Eyes Off My Self And Put Them On Christ

I think most of us struggle with keeping our eyes on Christ. Its soo easy to get consumed with our own wants, needs, anxieties, problems etc. but if we have our eyes on Christ we won't notice these things.  I struggle with taking each and every word some one speaks to me and analyze it and try to figure out whether or not they like me or dislike me. If I feel they don't like me I will then start shutting down, when I start shutting down I stop talking, and sit and have a pity party for myself.. When truly I don't really know their intentions, only the Lord knows.. So when I concentrate on how they are treating me and take things personal I have my eyes on myself and not on Christ, if I shut down when my feeling are hurt how am I supposed to be Christ like and die to self and continue to serve and Love someone? 

  (I hope I am making since)

Fair or not fair.  Equal or unequal.  Just or unjust.  We can tend to weigh it all.  And if were not careful, our view of the world can become distorted.  Every little word can take on a hidden meaning.  Each action can turn into a personal attack. 

"I do all the work," we mutter to ourselves. 

"How dare they treat me like that?"

These thoughts can easily outweigh everything good in our lives.  Because when we look for injustice, we usually find it.  And when we expect life to always be fair, we inevitably set ourselves up for a big disappointment. 

When I start feeling that things are unfair, I take a step back and think about when Christ became man.  I think of all the unfair things that happened to him.  He NEVER complained..  He died to self , and died for all of us nasty, disgusting sinners..  

Too be continued :)

Some Verses To Think On

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.   John 12:24

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.   Romans 12:1-2

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.   Luke 9:23

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.   1 Peter 4:1-2

And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.   Romans 8:17

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.   Luke 9:23-24

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us  Romans 8:18

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  Galatians 5:22

What Im Listening To

How To Dry Clean Eggs

If you are new to keeping chickens for eggs, you are probably still trying to figure out the best way to clean your eggs.  The first thing to do is make sure they have a clean laying area.  What we have found works best for laying material is pine shavings, it seems to almost work like cat litter, it attracts the moisture and keeps the chicken poo covered up, its cozy for the hens too:)  If you notice any chicky poo being tracked in try to clean it as soon as you can, this helps keep your eggs clean..

Eggs come out perfectly clean, its amazing how the Lord made everything PERFECT!  Its important to know a few things about cleaning your eggs to keep them fresher, longer.  First of all eggs have a natural antibacterial coating on them called the Bloom.  This amazing coating protects the egg from any bacteria getting to the inside.  If the eggs are washed the bloom can be washed off, then your eggs are at risk!

Hopefully if you are able to keep your laying area clean you wont even need to clean your eggs, but if there is a little bit of poo on them all you do is use something abrasive, I use a little sanding block that looks like this

I think a little sanding block like the one pictured above is about $3 at walmart, or any hardware store.  Make sure you sanitize the sanding block occasionally.

Also make sure its the most fine sanding block, cause you don't want to sand away the bloom.

If your egg looks really messy you can rinse it in warmer water then the temperature of the egg.  Don't use cold water.  I never wash my eggs, if they are too dirty.  I just boil the eggs that are really dirty. 

I have read that in other countries eggs can't be sold in stores that have been washed, they believe that the hygiene of the farm should be so clean that the eggs shouldn't need to be washed, unlike the USA standards the FDA mandates that all the eggs must be washed since most of the egg farms are soo filthy, and most of the time they use chemicals to wash the eggs.  Just another reason to have your own laying hens.

Homemade Elderberry Blueberry Yogurt

My family loves yogurt but I don't really love all the sugar in flavored yogurts, so I came up with a delicious concoction.  Elderberry and blueberries go great together especially in plain yogurt, and I don't think it could be any healthier.  Its packed with antioxidant's, probiotics, vitamin C and the list goes on my friend:)  We eat this almost every morning.

Oh and I forgot to tell you I use store bought yogurt, but Raw milk yogurt would be even better (Or ice cream).

So here it goes, this is all you need:

Brown Cow with Cream On Top Plain Yogurt (Or plain yogurt of your liking)

Elderberry Syrup (Recipe is on my blog)

Wild Blueberries (I like the wild blueberries they are smaller and tangier)

Now just mix it to your desired flavor:)

I also make some in these fantastic Ball Brands containers (they are BPA free and the perfect size), for My Beloved's lunch.

"He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity."
Proverbs 21:23

Homemakers Don't Be Discouraged

About 4 Years ago I left my job as a medical assistant to begin my God-given roll, being a wife, mom, and homemaker, and I have never looked back.  The Lord is a great provider, we have never been in need on just my husbands income, and that's pretty darn amazing with this econmy.  I was also blessed to grow up to have a stay at home mom that I am soo very thankful for. 
I stay at home with my 3 year old, 2 year old, and a 9 month old.

Motherhood is a calling. It's a womanly calling. And let's not be cowed by those who extinguish the light and joy of sexuality by trying to persuade us to forget words like manly and womanly. At the beginning of time when God made the first man and the first woman in His image, He put both under the divine command to be fruitful.
The woman's obedience to that command meant self-giving. First, she gave herself to her husband. He initiated. She responded. Then she gave herself for the life of her child. A woman knows in the deepest regions of her being that it's this very self-giving for which she was made, single or married.
Her level of maturity is measured by how much she gives to others. If she's married, she gives herself to her husband and she receives. If she's a mother, she loses her life in her child and mysteriously she finds it. A woman knows that no one can really say where the giving ends and the receiving starts.
It's no wonder we're confused when urged to look for some better or higher vocation in which to prove our personhood. No wonder we're distressed to be subjected to male standards or told that the notion of femininity and masculinity are obsolete. Old-fashioned notions they are indeed, but they weren't ours to begin with. They were God's. He planned the whole system, and it's God Himself who calls. He calls some to be single, some married people to be childless, but He calls most women to be mothers.
There are, the Bible tells us, differences of gifts and they're all given according to God's grace. If our calling is to be mothers, let's be mothers with all our hearts-gladly, simply, and humbly, like that little peasant girl Mary, who spoke for all women for all time when she said, 'Behold, the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to Thy word."  

Growing Our Potatoes In 5 Gallon Buckets

As some of you may know I have a teeny weeny itsy bitsy back yard, so we are definitely limited on our garden space.  My beloved began researching different ways to garden with limited space and came up with a great way to grow our potatoes. From what we have read potatoes deplete your soil quickly so if we plant our potatoes in buckets, after harvest we can then either throw that soil out, or use it for flower pots etc.  Plus planting in buckets helps save our garden space for other yummy veggies:)

How To Grow Potatoes In Buckets

We are using 5 gallon buckets, that we had given to us by a friend that came from a restaurant.  The buckets where food grade.  You want to make sure the buckets you use never had any chemicals in them previously. 

~Drill holes in bottom of bucket

~Throw in about 1-2 inches of stones for drainage

~Cover the stones with some sort of screen so that you don't plug up your drainage

~Add about 1-2 inches of soil/compost material

~Then add your potato with about 2-3 eyes

~Use just enough soil to cover your potato

~Make sure your soil is moist, but not too wet

~It will take about 1-2 weeks for it to pop through the surface

~Once it pops through just cover it with about 1 inch of soil until it gets close to the top of the bucket

 I have heard that some people have got up to 15lbs of tomatoes from 1 - 5 gallon bucket, but our expectations are not that high:) 

We planted Yukon Golds, and Russet potatoes. And we have 10 - 5 gallon buckets and they seem to be doing great so far.. I'm really excited to see how they turn out. 

     This is the potatoes poking through:)

And now I'm going to leave you with a picture of Gracie from last summer with one of our huge cucumbers.

These cucumbers didn't taste very good until they got huge, I'm guessing we did some thing wrong:)

"That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God."
Ecclesiastes 3:13

Our New Pup

 We got a new pup and her name is Lucy and she is 8 weeks old.  She is a lab/Australian Shepard mix and is as cute as can be:)  

The girls absolutely love her.  Her first night home she slept in her dog house that My Beloved made for her, she didn't make a peep all night.  She was born outside, and had never been in the house before so she loves the outdoors, which is great because we have had issues with past dogs sleeping in our bed with us, and I don't think that would go real well considering we co-sleep now.   

Soo all that to say she is PERFECT!  

We are working on her getting used to our chickens, because we're hoping they can be friends:)  

While playing outside with Lucy I decided to take some pics of my girls, I got some cute ones so I thought I would share them with you.

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

Proverbs 16:3

Construction Zone

My Blog is going through some major transformations, and I am soo excited about it!  I just created a new button for my blog on the sidebar, feel free to grab it and put it where ever year heart desires:)  It can be over whelming at times trying to figure out this blog stuff, but I'm finally catching on (I think)  ;)  

The Raw Truth About Raw Milk

My family has been blessed with having a friend to get Raw Milk from.  We have been drinking it for a year now and have benefited from it greatly.  There are great benefits from drinking raw milk, so I would like to share with you some things I have learned about raw milk.

                                                    (Borrowed from Milk can photo by Morgan Noguellou)

Raw Milk is Health Food

Raw milk from clean, healthy cows bears no comparison – in taste or nutrition – to pasteurized milk. High quality raw milk will always win out over the pasteurized variety.
It’s important to know that the milk you drink will only be as healthy as the cow that produced it. Make sure to source your raw milk from a clean, well-run farm that gives its cows access to pasture.
Raw milk from grass fed cows is full of things that your body will thrive on, including:

• healthy bacteria
• raw fat
• cancer-fighting conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)

It’s not uncommon for people who drink raw milk to report improvement or disappearance of troubling health issues – everything from allergies to digestive trouble to skin problems like eczema.
After years of consuming highly processed foods, we are experiencing skyrocketing rates of chronic, debilitating conditions like asthma, obesity and diabetes.
Pasteurized milk was the very first processed food we were exposed to, and countless numbers of people are experiencing all kinds of health troubles, from digestive upset to perhaps even autism.
This is why even organic milk, which should be from relatively healthy cows, is STILL not a healthy choice for milk, as it is still pasteurized.

Yet, many people thrive on raw dairy. As with nearly any food, the closer you consume it to its natural state, the better. And this is also true for milk.

Are You Ready to Join the Raw Milk Revolution?

Fortunately, no matter how far public health officials go to discredit the benefits of raw milk, a growing number of Americans are choosing natural dairy sources, even though they may be technically breaking their local law.
If you’re still on the fence, I suggest you talk to people in your area who drink raw milk and eat raw dairy products. I assure you there are more raw-milk drinkers around than you may think.

And you don’t have to stop with milk. Most raw-milk providers also offer other wonderful raw dairy products like cheeses, sour cream, kefir, yogurt, butter, and fresh cream. The flavor of these dairy products is incomparable -- rich, creamy, sweet and incredibly fresh.
Visit RealMilk.com for sources of raw dairy products near you.
You might also consider getting involved with organizations like the Weston A. Price Foundation and the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund who are working toward true freedom of choice for American consumers.  (Information comes from Dr. Mercola)

Genesis 18:8 And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

Job 10:10 Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?

Proverbs 30:33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

31 Days to Clean Challenge

Sarah Mae's new e-book "31 Days to Clean" has came out, and there is going to be a challenge starting
May 1st for any one who wants to join..

Today she is giving away a FREE copy of the book to any one who tweets, facebooks, or blogs about it, so go this link http://www.likeawarmcupofcoffee.com/home/2011/04/free-copy-of-31-days-to-clean/ if interested and want to find out all the information:) 

In Your Presence There Is Fullness of Joy

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

A picture I took here in Oregon

 Thank you Lord for your mercy you pour out on me every day.  I do not deserve your loving kindness. You Lord have patience with me, patience I long to show to my children.  Lead me and guide me down your narrow path.  I beg to you to never let me stray..

Unleavened Apple Butter Crisp

This is some amazingly~wonderful~Delicious apple crisp, and sooo easy to make:)  I wasn't real sure how it would taste with it being unleavened, but don't let that fool you, its really tasty!

                          
Warning ~ If you bring this to a pot lock, family get together, etc. make sure you bring a stack of cards with this recipe on it, because EVERYONE will want this recipe:)

Unleavened Apple Crisp
 5-6 Paired Apples
1/3 Cup water
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cups flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

Pair apples and spread out in 9x13 dish
Sprinkle with salt and cinnamon
pour in water
drizzle with lemon juice

In separate bowl mix flour, sugar, and rolled oats
Cut in butter until pea sized
spread over apples and pat firmly

Then bake for 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees

I make some whipped cream to go with it :)  Never ever use store bought whipped cream, it doesn't compare!

"That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God."
Ecclesiastes 3:13

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My First Year With My All Heirloom Garden

This is my second year gardening and I have decided to take on Heirloom seeds:)  I'm soo excited to see the outcome and hopefully be able to share the most delicious veggies and fruit's with family and friends, and whoever may be in need.  I would love to hear from other Heirloomers (Is Heirloomers a word or did I make that up? My definition of Heirloomers:  People who have grown Heirloomers and love them :) ) 

Since I have such a small gardening area I only have a few different vegetables, and a couple fruit's.. I chose my families favorites:)

Tomatoes ~ Cherokee Purple, Sweeties, and Brandywine
Peas ~ Oregon Sugar Pod
Watermelon ~ Congo
Pumpkin ~ Sugar Pie
Squash ~ Yellow Crookneck
Cucumber ~ Lemon Cucumber
Zucchini
Pepper ~ Cal Wonder Bel
Strawberries

My Little Green house a couple weeks ago

Some of my starts a couple weeks ago, they are much bigger now and in bigger pots

And future plans for Quinoa (Not real sure how Quinoa grows around here,  I don't know
any one who grows it.)

I will get some updated pictures and hopefully post this some time this week, they are growing like crazy!

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one. Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever."
Psalm 28:7-9

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Passover

Tonight at sunset is the beginning of the Passover.  This is our first year to celebrate the Passover.
We will be spending it with my brother his wife and my 2 precious nieces. 
Dinner consists of
Lamb
Bitter Herbs
and unleavened Bread

I will be providing the desert
Unleavened Buttery Apple Crisp
(I've never made this before but if it is good I will post the recipe tomorrow)

If you would like to learn about the biblical Holidays I highly suggest of course The Word of God (The Holy Bible), but the next best book for understanding in my opinion is A Family Guide to The Biblical Holidays By Robin Sampson and Linda Pierce. 

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world"

  John 1:29

Our Homestead Journey On 1/10 Of An Acre

Soo much going on in our little teeny weeny itsy bitsy back yard.  When I say on 1/10th of an acre I mean our whole lot is 1/10 of an acre, front yard-house-back yard is 1/10th of an acre.. Our home is 1220 square feet, and our front yard is bigger then our back yard soo that means our back yard is TINY (Which also means not a whole lot to work with)!!!!! 

Our Chicken Run

 But God is sooo good and has let us do quite a bit with it.  We have our 9 pretty ladies (Laying hens), and 18 pullets on one side of the house, our potato buckets on the other side and a small grass play area for our 3 little girlie's on the back of our house, ohh and our garden is back there too..

Our Pullet Run

Miss Chloe Holding A Pullet Barred Rock

Gracie Holding One too!

And here is the man who makes it all happen

My Beloved

And here are the newest additions to our little teeny weeny itsy bitsy homestead

2 ducklings, 6 Araucanas, 3 Bantams

One of my pretty ladies :)

"Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD."

Psalm 25:4-7

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