The Majesty of God

Psalm 8
Devine Majesty

O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?

Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honour.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!


My heart is here today,

Delicious Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread as a mini-loaf

I wish I had made a note of the date the first time I made this recipe. I believe it was the first "bread" I ever attempted to make (although come to think of it, I probably made banana bread about the same time).

If memory serves me correctly, the original recipe was clipped out of an early Taste of Home magazine. I messed around with different toppings I thought might add to its deliciousness. You know, if you can add pizazz, why not.

Many years ago in the dead of winter, when the kids were still very little, I can remember standing in my kitchen and hearing a strange noise. I had no idea what it was. As I looked out our front window, I found a man, all bundled-up, using a snow blower to clear our driveway. I walked outside to find our new neighbor (they had only moved into their house a few months prior) hiding beneath the big hat and scarf. He said, "You know, I'm retired and I see your husband works long days and is a young father. I have lots of time on my hands. I remember what it was like having so many responsibilities. This gives me something to do and he won't have to worry about shoveling the driveway when he gets home."

Wow, is right.

Although he later protested, I couldn't let this opportunity go by without thanking him in a special way. I delivered warm pumpkin bread to him and his wife. I used my homemade cinnamon and sugar topping (which, when baked, creates a crunchy crust) and later found he absolutely loved it. And so every time Cliff would come and snow blow the driveway, I found my way to his house with warm pumpkin bread. He and his wife were two beautiful people and lovely neighbors.

I remember just a couple of summers later seeing Cliff and his wife at the post office. I said hello and commented to him about his new pick-up truck. He didn't seem himself, but I didn't make a big deal of it. I figured that maybe I had caught him at a bad time. A short while later I saw his wife out in the front yard working alongside her grandchildren. But I didn't see Cliff. Imagine my absolute shock to find out that Cliff had been diagnosed with lung cancer (he had never smoked a day in his life) and had died only a short time after I had seen him. I just couldn't believe it. It turns out, I had caught him at a bad time after all. I wonder if I had asked if everything was OK if he would have told me. I don't know. I just remember thinking we never knew to pray for our neighbors when they were in such need.

Cliff's wife, Pat, sold the big house quickly and we kept in touch at Christmastime for many years. I can't help but think of our loving and kind neighbor as I post this recipe. It was Cliff's favorite.

Delicious Pumpkin Bread
(Makes two full-size loaves)

Things you will need:

5 eggs
1-1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15 oz.) solid-pack pumpkin
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 packages (3 oz. each) cook and serve vanilla pudding mix
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs. Add oil and pumpkin; beat until smooth. Combine remaining ingredients; gradually beat into pumpkin mixture. Pour batter into two greased 8” x 4” x 2” loaf pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Do not over bake! Cool on wire racks.

Michelle's variations for toppings:

For Cinnamon Sugar, blend together 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon (you won't need all of this--use some for cinnamon toast). Generously sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture on top of pumpkin bread batter before baking. For additional yumminess, add some chopped pecans.

For Crumb Topping, in a small bowl, mix together 1/3 cup packed brown sugar, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon cold butter. With a fork or pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembled coarse cornmeal. Add chopped pecans if desired. Sprinkle over top of pumpkin bread batter before baking.

Additional notes from Michelle:

* A doubled recipe will fill 5 disposable loaf pans (8" x 3 7/8" x 215/32"); bake time is still the same. These mini-loaves make wonderful Christmas gifts for neighbors and friends. But please, give full-sized loaves to neighbors who snow blow your driveway.

* Adding chocolate chips to the pumpkin mixture is fabulous (thank you sister-in-love, Julie!)

Enjoy!



P.S. Friends, if you ever have any questions about any recipe I post here, please don't ever hesitate to ask. I would love to help in any way I can!

Perfect Preparation

Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)

I have a number of ornate frames in my guest powder room. Each frame contains words that have deep meaning to me. Some frames contain Bible verses, some contain lines from favorite books, some contain words of favorite hymns, and some contain words spoken by people from different times and walks of life.

These words are contained in the first frame I hung in my powder room.

"Every experience God gives us,

every person He puts in our lives,

is the perfect preparation for the future

that only He can see."

Corrie Ten Boom

I thank my God every time I remember you,

I've Been Tagged!

My computer was hit with a Trojan virus on Monday (even with anti-virus software), so I'm feeling a little bit behind on my blog. I am learning how hard it is to function without a computer. Yikes.

While I had something in mind for today's blog, I have put those thoughts on hold for now. For imagine my surprise when I discovered this morning that I had been tagged by sweet Lady Rose at A Queen In Her Castle! Oh, how I love, love, love her blog. I've never been tagged before, so this was a fun, thought-provoking exercise. And some of you lovelies out there get to be tagged by Yours Truly. I hope you will participate, but please don't feel any pressure. Really. Besides, chances are, I don't know where you live anyway!

Here are the questions Lady Rose asked in her tag, along with my answers...

1. If you could live in any place, where would it be? Why would you live there?

I'm a country girl and have always lived in the same place, not too far from the great North Coast. If I could snap my fingers and have a home somewhere else in the world, based upon my very narrow experiences, I would love to live on a high place which overlooks the ocean, but where the seasons still change at their appointed time. Anyone who has ever been to or lived by the ocean has to love the smell of the salt water in the air, the steady sound of the pounding surf, and the ability to take endless walks along the shore, where each morning dawns upon a fresh canvas of undisturbed sand. At least that's how I've always dreamed it would be for me.

2. Make a list of the five favorite activities that you like to do (I know this isn't a question).

These are my favorite things, but not in any order:

1. I love to sit by a fire and watch flames lick over the wood, red embers glowing, almost sparkling, while listening to all the creatures sing their beautiful songs.

2. I love to entertain and gather family and friends around a table filled with lovingly prepared food. There's something wonderful about sharing a meal with those you love, where conversations can linger for hours, and where the burdens of life seem to disappear, even if for a little while.

3. If considered an activity, I love to hold Mr. Wonderful's hand. Mr. Wonderful? Oh, Mr. Wonderful? Did you hear that?

4. I love to use the God-given gifts I have to serve others. Whether it's preparing a meal for someone in need (or someone that just needs an extra-helping of love), sitting and listening to the heart of a homeless woman, teaching a Bible class filled with eager learners, or teaching my own children as we gather for school at the kitchen table every morning, I truly enjoy serving others.

5. I enjoy reading, listening to music, and my new-found late-in-life hobby, quilting (which even now is crying out for me!)

3. What is your most challenging household chore? Briefly explain why it is challenging for you.

Dusting. I used to enjoy dusting. Mr. Wonderful knows that I blame him for not enjoying it any longer. I suppose I never learned how to dust "properly". After we were married and he showed me how to dust the correct way (at least how he was taught by his mother), I never enjoyed dusting again. Unfortunately, our house is filled with heavy wood work from top to bottom. And no, I don't care too much if it's dusty. My eyes have grown accustomed to filtering it out. When I see that I can write my name in dust, I start thinking about when I'll need to dust and whether or not we have company coming over any time soon. Just keepin' it real.

4. What was the happiest day of your life (and you can't say the day you got married or engaged. Choose another day.)?

The day my son, Caleb, was born. I remember holding him and singing my special song to him just moments after he was born. His eyes looked straight at me and I knew at that moment he knew I was his mama. His hands looked so big and open. I whispered in his ear, "Your hands will change the lives of many people." Caleb wasn't suppose to live. Everyone knew that. He was the first baby to have ever survived such circumstances. Word spread quickly the day he was born. All the doctors and nurses came to see this little baby whose life had been held in the very hands of God.

5. What annoys or irritates you the most (besides getting "tagged")?

People who whine. Enough said.

6. Where do you like to "hide" when you're having a rough day?

If the weather cooperates, I take my iPod all ready to go with my favorite music, a good book, and hide on the patio, in my favorite chair. When the weather doesn't cooperate, I've always dreamed of getting in my car and driving south until I find sunshine. I've never gone through with it, but I've always wanted to. Maybe someday. If I could muster-up the courage.

7. Write a six line poem of rhyming couplets. Now tell us, was this a hard or an easy task for you and why (You know I write poetry, so you had to know this was coming )?

Autumn Leaves

by

Yours Truly

The leaves are falling, falling down,
softly twirling, upon the ground.

Once their lives were shimmery green,
held in place by sweet sunshine seen.

Here today, crisp crimson, golden
stems let loose from limbs of olden.

Falling, falling, falling down,
softly twirling, upon the ground.

Oh, I can only imagine the shaking of the heads, or perhaps the giggles. Well to enlighten you, I had to look-up the definition for a rhyming couplet just to make sure I knew what I was doing. That ought to tell you something! I decided to look out the window and write about the first thing my eyes beheld. I wish I had learned how to properly read and recite poetry. I admire those whose hands and minds are gifted with such beautiful words.

8. What is your all-time favorite movie?

I think it might be a tie between Pride and Prejudice and Lord of the Rings (extended edition). These are two movies I never, ever tire of watching.

---------- ~ ----------

Now it's your turn to be tagged. So, if you're up for some fun, here we go!

You've Been Tagged!

1. Dani at Invisible Realities (Dani's answers here)

2. Melanie at Complete In Thee (Melanie's answers here)

3. Beth at Musings and Meanderings of the North Country

4. Lorie at The Fruit of Her Hands

5. Denise at Got Chai?

6. Debbie at Along the Narrow Pathway

Oh, and Lady Rose, I'd love to hear what you have to say!

And here are my questions...

1. I have a painting in my home that immediately gets my heart to singing Sheep May Safely Graze. Is there a photo or a painting or even an object that makes you think of a song to sing? If not a song, is there a Bible verse that comes to mind?

2. If you could sit across a table with someone living today, who would it be and what one question would you ask them? Please, I beg you, no politicians.

3. We are studying the history of classical music at our home. If you could choose one piece of classical music, what selection would you choose, who is the composer, and why does this song have meaning to you?

4. What one thing in all of creation that you can see with your eyes, grips your heart and makes you stand in awe of His majesty? Why?

5. Is there any one thing you are fanatical about? How do you know (has somebody told you!)?

6. If you could choose a season, which one is your favorite and why? Describe what it looks like outside your window today.

7. What's your favorite "just got out of bed in the morning" drink and do you have a special place you go to enjoy it?

Happy Tagging!

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

Last Friday, Rachel made two pumpkin pies, from start to finish, all by herself!



Look at that crimping on the pie crust...wow!



Hot out of the oven...the aroma, heavenly!



First slice of this season's first pumpkin pie...oh, yum!

I will just say, for the record, that I moved the liquid pies from the counter to the oven as it can be very tricky. Everything else was done without any supervision. Why, I wasn't even in the room!

You might find it a little amusing that it's only been a year since we learned how to make a pie crust. And it's only been a year since Rachel actually submitted to a bite of pumpkin pie. Oh, how her world changed after that one little bite!

Needless to say, having slightly warmed pumpkin pie topped with cold whipped cream on a chilly Friday night in October was an incredible treat. And here, I always thought pumpkin pies were just for Thanksgiving.

Everything's a little nicer when there's pumpkin pie nearby...and a sweet little girl snuggled in next to you enjoying the work of her hands.

Soli Deo Gloria Resources TOS Product Review

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

As stated right from their website, Soli Deo Gloria is Latin for "To God Alone the Glory." It is one of the benchmarks of the reformation and necessary for the reformation of our thoughts regarding the education of our children.

We have had the privilege of incorporating into our mornings before school begins, a pre-inductive study of the Psalms by Soli Deo Gloria Resources. Young Hearts Longing for God is a Bible study intended for children in grades 4 through 8, but can also be used by older students alone, or by younger students with the help of a parent.

If we step back for a moment, the fundamental principle of inductive Bible study is to study the text of Scripture. Young Hearts Longing for God is a pre-inductive study which slowly and gently leads children, or perhaps those unfamiliar with the Bible, to look deeper into the text of scripture.

Young Hearts Longing for God contains 30 Psalms to study. Each Psalm is intended to be studied for one week, allowing this study to be completed in one school year. Students read through the Psalm each day, five days in a row. In addition, questions and activities are completed through the week, ending with a written entry in a personal journal. To see a sample study lesson of Psalm 8, click here.

We incorporated this study into our regular morning's Bible reading and prayer time and found it to be a great addition to our time together. Completing the day's reading and question or activity only takes a few minutes. The time spent is time well spent. Fridays are the days we designated to complete the study and enter our personal thoughts into our private journals.

Even though the purpose of our receiving this study was to try it out and give our personal thoughts and review, we have unanimously decided to continue on for the remainder of our school year. We love it!

Kim Kargbo (you might want to read about Kim and her family here) believes that we, as parents, should be educating our children for God’s glory alone. This in turn helps to equip them to go out into the world and use their God-given gifts for the good of others.

As so beautifully written by Kim, "Our unit studies and other curriculum are designed to cause learners to be captivated by God's "bigger picture." All of life, including math, science, history and language arts, is part of God's HUGE redemptive plan. Seeing God's hand at work in all of life, and seeing each piece as part of a larger picture is one of the main goals of education. Glorifying Him through all that we do, all that we learn, and all that we are is ultimately what we are called to do as His children."

I would encourage my readers to stop by Soli Deo Gloria Resources' website and not only browse through the many unit studies offered, but also take a few minutes to check out a number of wonderful resources they provide for free.

Young Hearts Longing for God is available as a workbook for $16 and as an E-book for $14.50.

I highly recommend Soli Deo Gloria Resources. Both Kim and her husband, Tim, were raised on the Mission field in Africa. Kim's parents were Bible translators and performed literacy work. It seems only fitting that Kim would take many of the lessons she learned as a child growing-up in a small village in Africa, and create a company and products that convey those same truths.



I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse 2010-2011 Crew and receive free products and services in exchange for a thorough and honest review. Though I am compensated with free products, I am not compensated in the form of cash for my reviews. My reviews will always reflect my honest opinions, findings, beliefs and experiences on the products and services that I receive.

Still

Safe ...


Still, My Soul Be Still (<---click here to listen to audio)

Words and Music by Keith & Kristyn Getty & Stuart Townend

Still my soul be still
And do not fear
Though winds of change may rage tomorrow
God is at your side
No longer dread
The fires of unexpected sorrow

God You are my God
And I will trust in You and not be shaken
Lord of peace renew
A steadfast spirit within me
To rest in You alone

Still my soul be still
Do not be moved
By lesser lights and fleeting shadows
Hold onto His ways
With shield of faith
Against temptations flaming arrows

Still my soul be still
Do not forsake
The Truth you learned in the beginning
Wait upon the Lord
And hope will rise As stars appear when day is dimming

Still in Him today,