christian priorities?

convicting, no?

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{recipe} The Perfect (addicting, non-healthy) Peanut Brittle

The Perfect (addicting, non-healthy) Peanut Brittle

Ingredients:

1 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. raw peanuts

1 tsp. butter

1/2 c. light corn syrup

1 tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. salt

1)  In a 2 quart microwavable glass bowl, mix together sugar, peanuts, syrup, and salt. Microwave for 4 minutes.

2) Stir in the vanilla and butter. Microwave 4 minutes.

3) Stir in baking soda. Pour out onto a silpat or lightly greased cookie sheet.

4) After in hardens, break into pieces, and eat!

*I love to do this with nuts other than peanuts, like almonds or even a mixture of all nuts. Delicious.
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the unsafe question

Are you pregnant?

The question caught her off guard. Was her friend joking? She looked down. She knew her uniform was a little tight-it had been a year since she last had to wear it-but did she really look pregnant?

No, of course not, she told her friend.

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The seemingly harmless question plagued her all day. Feelings of insecurity, shame, guilt, and ugliness flooded her. With no one to turn to, she had to bear this burden all alone.

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This is a true story. The girl that told me this could not tell it without crying. We barely know each other, yet it was tearing her apart so much she just had to get it out; it didn't matter who, she needed someone to listen.

It is surprising just how many women struggle with insecurity and the "shame" of not being pretty.

Everyone is beautiful. We look at man's standards of beauty, but what about God's standards? Shouldn't we be looking at ourselves (and others!) through God's eyes?

Below are favorite posts on the subject

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Come Away With Me at SimplyHis.

A Love Letter to My Body at Joy in this Journey

As God Sees at Faith and Simplicity

beauty that cannot be captured in ESPN magazines at To Overflowing

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homeschool chaos

My mom is an expert in the homeschool world. At one point in each of our lives, she has homeschooled every one of her 6 children. When I was a lot younger, she wrote a short story about the life of a homeschool mom, and I want to share that with you today! Enjoy =]
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A Day of Homeschooling

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The children get up, get dressed, make beds, have breakfast, then do chores and we have devotion.

We make it to school on time if we are not interrupted by phone calls and discipline problems.

We go upstairs. John Z. and Sarah Ann play in the playroom while Steven, Meagan and I go to the schoolroom to begin their lessons. While I am giving instructions on how to do page 6 in English, I hear fussing from the playroom. John Z. and Sarah decide that they want to play with the same toy at the same time. After I get that settled, I go back to Steve and Meagan. They are waiting on me to explain the instructions again. I explain again, trying to remember that they are 5 and 7 and they will  not understand everything the first time. Well, now they understand. They complete page 6, 7, and 8. Now, it's time for a spelling test. Did I hear them groan? As I call out the second word, I hear John's voice from the bathroom, Mom, I need help!!! So I tell Steven and Meagan to read a story in their reader, wanting them to stay occupied until I get back. As I walk to the bathroom, I see Sarah standing there crying, saying I need to go potty. Her being in the potty training stage, she really means Help, I'm all wet. Please put a diaper on me! I look at her and say Sarah, I'll be right back. Wait, what do you have on your face?

I don't know, she says.

Sarah, where did you get that paint? Who left out the watercolors? Sarah, stay right there. John, I'm coming!

So, now, John is settled and asking for a snack. Just a minute please.

As I pick Sarah up to take her downstairs to get changed, I tell Steven and Meagan to stop talking and get out their tablets to practice writing their alphabet. After Sarah is clean and dry again, we go to the kitchen. I notice that the washer has stopped so we reload the washer and dryer, get a snack, and head back upstairs.

John and Sarah are happy again. Back in the schoolroom, I wonder what Steve and Meagan have been doing. They are only on the letter M. One doesn't want to get ahead of the other so they write slowly so they can stay together.

Now, where were we? Oh yeah, a spelling test. We finish the test without any more distractions. We even get through another subject!

The lessons are going well. Who's coming through the door? John Z. and Sarah are saying We're hungry. I look at the clock, it's lunch time.

I tell Steven and Meagan to help John Z. and Sarah Ann clean the playroom while I fix lunch. While walking through the playroom, I step over dolls, tinkertoys, toy cars, crayons, and books. They sure did have a good time. After the room is clean, they can come downstairs to eat. If you don't work, you don't eat.

That is a typical day before lunch. Of course, I left out some things. School is easier after lunch, because John Z. and Sarah Ann still take afternoon naps. Praise the Lord!

If you are thinking about homeschooling, don't let this discourage you! We have good and bad days. Everyone has those anyway.

Homeschooling is worth it when you see your child sitting there reading a library books and you are the one that taught them. You get to hear the oldest child teaching his younger brother how to count.You get to see excitement in their eyes when they learn something new and can't wait to tell Dad when he gets home.

It's a challenge, but there is a feeling of accomplishment when you put away the books at the end of the school year.

I thank the Lord for the opportunity to homeschool.  

~

Lots of link ups today!

        

{devotion} tugging conviction

I knew I shouldn't have watched it. I ignored the tugging at my soul as I told Sister don't tag me on Facebook at this movie.

That tugging? Conviction.

 
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My holy Savior reminding me, gently, that it wasn't pure and holy.

Yet, I listened to the enemies lies. The movie is harmless, right? It's not going to change the way I think or live. I'm still a good girl. Movies don't affect me.

It's not easy. It's not very pretty either, that tug of war.

When I feel it at my soul, I fight it. But I know I must give in. I must confess. I have to speak my feelings, raw and unedited. Yes, it's painful. No one wants to admit wrong.

 But then....

 After conviction and confession comes sweet healing. Peace and closeness fills my soul. I am in harmony with Him again, with the sin guilt out of the way.

 Proverbs 28:13 He that coverth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

 Don't let tugging conviction and open confession scare you. After comes the blessedness of forgiveness, tearful mercy, wonderful grace, and quiet peace.

 Psalm 32:3-5 When I kept silence my bones grew old through my groaning all day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my vitality turned into drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the inquity of my sin. Selah.

   

{devotion} burden or banner?

Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

When I see myself taking up my cross, it's heavy. I imagine unbearable weight and stumbling. It's a burden after all, right? Isn't that what Jesus means in this verse?

Studying further into this verse, I was astounded. "Take up" here in Luke actually means "to hold high, like a banner, for all to see."

So the cross I bear to follow Jesus is not a heavy burden, but a brazen banner! I've been going about this all wrong. To follow Him is not a heavy yoke, but a banner to proudly wave so all others can know and see HIM.

~

counting...

#75 buttery popcorn, homemade

#77 soft conviction

#78 friend, non-judgemental

#79 mucinex!

#80 19 yr old brother showing maturity

#82 budding friendship



{recipe} What to do when your Aunt gives you peaches...

Make peach sherbert!

Super simple. A mix between ice cream and sorbet, this recipe is perfect for cooling off these summer days.

Peach Sherbert:
6 perfect peaches
1 1/2 cups Sugar in the Raw
1 can evaporated milk
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
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1) peel peaches, cut in half and remove pit. Place peaches in a bowl and cover with 3/4 cup of the natural sugar. Mash together and let sit.
2) Bring to a simmer the milk, evap milk, and rest of the sugar. While waiting on it to heat, puree two cups of the peaches until very smooth. Whisk in the hot milk, vanilla, and salt.
3) Chill until very cold (overnight is best). Churn in an icecream maker.
4) If you have mashed peaches left over after removing two cups, cut into small pieces, and mix into ice cream before freezing.

*If you don't have a wonderful aunt, like I do, to give you peaches, I highly recommed using peaches from a farmer's market rather than a regular grocery store. Produce is usually so much better at the local farmer's market.