Life Around Here

 It kind of feels like I hardly ever get around to blogging anymore. I finally uploaded pictures (I haven't been taking so many pictures either) from the last few weeks tonight. So here are some of the pictures I had taken which show a little bit of what has been going on around here lately.

We framed up a bedroom in the basement and then Ken and Jonathan hung sheetrock in it. It is not truly finished but it did work for Ken's parents to stay in when they came for Thanksgiving. Megan has been enjoying the room lately too.

  We had fun making stuff for and packing up shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

 Megan made a soft doll and then wanted a dress for both the girl and the doll that matched so I made those. I also made a tote bag and she crocheted a wash cloth. She also painted a little box that we sent some candy in.

 For this box Aaron and I made a jumprope. Megan made a marker roll. I crocheted a washcloth and one of the kids made a notebook cover. I made a totebag.

 Mara made her girl an outfit and a doll as well. I made a tote bag, Megan made a crayon roll and Mara made a crown.

  We did do one other box too but it didn't have much homemade stuff in it.

 Ken's parents came to visit for over a week and one morning we had a very fun time exploring some state land near our place.

 Our Kitchi dog is growing up so fast!

 On Thanksgiving day and truly all week games were played.

 The table at Thanksgiving. My parents were sick and didn't end up getting to come. We missed them.

 Trying to figure out how to make a "printing press" for homeschool co-op.

 The "printing press" in action.

 Juanita and I were in charge of the print shop were many wanted posters were made!

This evening we had supper over at my parents after coming back from a convention in the cities. After supper my Mom had my little sister Keren try on a maternity outfit that a friend had made for Mom when she was pregnant with Keren. We think she looks pretty cute!

Why I Believe We Need to Show Preference to Others

  The teaching of thinking of others as more important than ourselves is a hard teaching. It is not something that I can do easily. On my own I am selfish and self -centered. Only with the Holy Spirit working in me can I make progress on changing this.

  Here is why I believe we are to show preference (in other words - consider first what others want - not what you want) to others.

  Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;"

Philippians 2:3 & 4 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the the interests of others."

 May God help us as we seek to live more fully for Him!

Yummy Squash Seeds

 My parents are great at growing squash. God blesses them abundantly with squash i their gardens and they tend to share it with us. I love having it to use to make "pumpkin" pie, bread, muffins, bars and so on. But I also like using not just the nice orange part but also the seeds. I think they make a very yummy snack.

  It isn't very hard to prepare them. You just cut the squash open before cooking it and take the seeds out. You then pull most of the membranes off of the seeds. This isn't really that scientific. Then you toss them with some olive oil and seasonings (a little salt and you can be creative with other flavors or just use a seasoning salt. Then put it in a cast iron skillet in the oven at 350 degrees for around 1/2 hour. Stir it often and take it out sooner if needed.

Cool and eat!

What do you do with squash?

Thankfulness

This picture was taken some weeks ago - we recently got snow and the leaves have
fallen so things are looking a bit different around here now. I am thankful for
 the changing beauty that we can enjoy.

 We are blessed with Ken's parents visiting us right now and we have also been busily sewing this afternoon trying to get everything finished up so we can deliver our Operation Christmas Child boxes tomorrow morning so I did not manage to get a big post up but I did want to share a couple of verses on being thankful. I really think that learning to be thankful can be life changing. If you don't live life with an attitude of gratitude I would recommend starting. Just start thinking about, writing out, praying about all the things you are thankful for. If you feel frustrated with your husband start listing all the reasons you do thank God for him. If your kids are driving you crazy - start thanking God for them and list reasons. Your whole attitude can change when you learn to be thankful.

Here are some verses that I love:

 "Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father." Ephesians 5:20

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Col. 3:16 & 17

Operation Christmas Child Week

This is the week to drop of shoeboxes that are packed with all sorts of fun stuff to be sent to some needy child. This is something that our kids have enjoyed doing for many years now. It is a really fun way to cause them to think about others and to really embrace giving. If you didn't plan to do so already I just wanted to mention the idea in case it would be something you could do this week. I think your family plus the child would be blessed by it.

  Here are some links that could be helpful:

Operation Christmas Child -Packing your shoebox

A Missionary's insight into what is good for boxes.

Another post with insight from distribution.

Posts from various years about our Operation Christmas Child Shoebox packing:

2009

2010 Bags for our boxes

2011 (Skirt and shirt tutorial)

2012

Clothespin dolls could be a fun addition to a box.

Why I Believe We Need to Confess Our Sins

  Admitting that I have done something wrong isn't naturally very fun. To let go of my pride isn't all that easy. But from my study of scripture I have come to understand that confessing is necessary. So whether or not we find it easy or fun it is something that we should practice. I think that we will find that even though it doesn't seem fun at first - there is relief that is found when we confess our sins.

  Here are the verses that make me realize that I need to confess my sins:

    "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."  1 John 1:8-10

 " I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord"; and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;" Psalm 32:5 & 6

 "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." James 5:16

  We are to confess our sins to God but as we see in James we do also need to confess our sins to one another. We aren't supposed to be putting on this show of living some perfect life. We need to be honest and acknowledge our sins and then move forward from there with healing.

  I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject.