A Mother's Sunday Thoughts..

Hello there everyone.. 

Today is the Lord's day and a beautiful sunny one it is here in Eastern Canada.. 

I thought perhaps I would share a little bit of what is on my heart with you all.. 

We had a lovely worship service this morning at church and the Lord's presence was so real..

I love services like that.. 

I leave strengthened and full of the joy of the Spirit.. 

I feel a sense of comfort knowing that all is under His control.. 

When we wake up tomorrow morning there is no promise of what the day may bring..

We here in North America live blessed lives but we still live and life still happens.. It can bring many forms.. 

We may have joy and sunshine and laughter or perhaps it will bring sorrow and pain and sadness..

I am so glad that I know the Lord and  He is there no matter what my day may bring..  

I don't need to look for him or go to a church or find a preacher ..

I can just call on His name and he is available and present.. 

As we look on the world events we see such turmoil.. 

The weather has gone mad and sin abounds on every side.. 

What used to be out of bounds is now acceptable and normal..

We are living in the last days and the signs are everywhere.. 

The home and the family are in a war to even stand upright.. 

There is so much against it .. 

Pressures of life and careers..

Materialism waves it's hands for a family's attention every day.. 

The media has taken over the family time in most homes.. 

Dinner time is almost unheard of and take out and meals on the go are the ordinary... 

School, sports and events take precedence over a families schedule ..

Where is God's place in all of this?

Have we made a place for the Creator of our lives?

Is He important enough to have a wedge out of our day? 

A sliver, even? 

The importance of church attendance is getting less every day and many families spend their Sundays in an arena or some type of pleasure.. 

This is the norm for most families in the world we are living in.. 

Computer games, sports and pleasure trips are what make the world go around  and parents feel that this is the best thing they can do for their kids.. 

Our oldest son said to me the other day that in raising their children that they only get one kick at the can and they had to do what they could to teach them about a life in Christ.. 

I thought about that and agreed whole heartily.. 

In looking back at the time that Terry and I had to raise our children it seems like it was over in a flash.. 

Today they are grown and have been gone for years and we as their parents had such a short time to teach them what was important.. 

Eternity... 

That is the most important thing there is.. 

And where will they spend it? 

Are we teaching them that the things of this world doesn't hold a candle to beauty and joy that a life in Christ gives.. 

That Jesus is coming soon and he tells us to be ready.. 

In Matthew 24:44

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.. 

Are we preparing our children's minds and teaching them the precepts of God? 

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.. 

We all love our children .. 

We want the best things that life has to hold for them.. 

We want love and joy and affection.. 

Freedom and a world of peace and life.. 

We would do anything to keep them safe and well.

But do we love them enough to tell them that Jesus Christ loves them too.. 

That He loved them first.. 

That He created them and made a place for them if they but give their hearts to His care.. 

He has made a way for them that they can be saved and live under his everlasting arm of love.. 

That he reaches for them and wants them for his own.. 

Do we show them that He is the most important thing in our life.. 

That Mama loves the Lord and is planning on spending eternity with Him.. 

That she wants her children there and will do what it takes to make sure they know the Lord, too.. 

As I look back on my life as a young mama I see so many things that I should have done and so wish I could change.. 

But we only had one kick at that can and what is done has been done.. 

Now all I can do is pray.. 

Pray that Christ will be their all in all ..

Pray that they will put Him first in their lives and homes.. 

Pray that they will be ready when the trumpet sounds.. 

Pray that they won't put off salvation and that they will make sure their life is what He would have it to be.. 

Pray that they will teach their children the ways of the Lord and that there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun and that the Bible is true.

And I can wrap my arms around them and tell them that as much as I love them that He loves them so much more.. 

That I have put them all in His hand and I trust that all will be well with their souls... 

And I can live my life as an example of Christ.. 

Until eternity that is what I can do.. 

I am so thankful for what the Lord has done and is doing in my children's hearts and lives today.. 

He is faithful.. 

I hope this has touched your hearts .. 

I know that so many of you who read this blog have Christ in your hearts and that you too realize that there is a need in our families to prepare our children for the coming of the Lord.. 

And I want to say that I am so thankful that one day so many years ago a man came to our little humble home and told us the Good News and that my parents gave their hearts to the Lord and brought us up to know Him.. 

God bless..

 Proverbs 30:5-6 - Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 

A Winter's Day Picnic....

Good Evening everyone.

It is March Break here in Eastern Canada so today we took our youngest two grandsons out for a Winter's Picnic.. smile.. 

I mentioned I had been wanting to do such a thing and there came a phone call where Grandpa was called to the phone and it was mentioned that there were a couple of boys who would like to go.. 

Today the temp was -4 degrees C. and not that bad really as the sun was nice and bright.. 

We picked them up at 9 am and went to MacDonald's to have our breakfast then we headed for one of my favorite places.. 

We followed the Petitcodiac River all the way to the 

Fundy National Park in Albert Co.. 

I had gone on the Internet and found that the Rocks on the Bay of Fundy was kind of opened.. 

There was an alternate trail to the beach and the parking lot was plowed.. 

Grandpa and the boys went for a little hike to see the beach ... 

I decided to stay in the car and drink my coffee and read.. 

We really had hoped to find a covered picnic table with a fire pit but that was not to be.. 

We used a snow bank instead.. grin.. 

The kids didn't mind and seemed to enjoy the hot dogs, potato salad, strawberries and such.. 

Food tastes so good in the open air even if it is very cold out.. 

Their Grandma couldn't find the ketchup she had packed but thank heavens there were cheese slices.. smile.. 

After all that we went and visited some horses who had a beautiful view and chanced upon a deer who waited for us to take his picture.. 

Then there were kids skating on the river and sliding down a hill.

Airplanes and trains also took their attention.. 

Along with old barns, covered bridges and little villages nestled in the hills.. 

When they were tired of looking out the windows they read their books.. 

Grandpa couldn't get over how well behaved they were.. 

So quiet and never complaining.. 

Such sweet boys.. 

We really enjoyed our day together and hope this will be a little page in their book of memories someday.. 

Thanks so much for dropping by and I still so enjoy your lovely comments.. 

The next time we head that way I am sure it will be Spring and the temps will be much warmer.. 

I don't expect it will be any more enjoyable, though.. 

Grandpa and I are tuckered out.. grin.. 

A nice hot cup of tea just hits the spot.. 

God bless...

A Winter Week End...

Hello my dears.. 

A little Saturday posting for you.. 

We still have lots of snow in Eastern Canada.. 

It is March break here in our province for the school kids and so of course our daughter and her family have headed to Florida.. 

This time they took their cousin who is our oldest grandson with them.. 

I am sure they will have a blast but meanwhile the rest of them are on the ski hills and such.. 

I do remember the excitement of March break and all the plans we used to make to have kids over and celebrate it all.. 

I sure do miss those days.. 

Oh well.. 

Here on the home front Terry and I are basking in the Winter's sun and enjoying the last days of the season.. 

I made this for our lunch and it was so good.. 

Terry has informed me that he is kind of tired of soup.. 

Imagine.. smile.. 

This is a baked potato with a topping of salmon and veggies.. 

I baked each of us a potato in the little potato baker.. 

And while they were cooking I made a white sauce.. 

I had salmon fillet that I shredded and a small can of mixed veggies which I added to the thickened white sauce.. 

Salt and pepper and a bit of parsley.. 

Pour this hot over the squeezed potato and a bit of shredded cheese.. 

Lunch in a bowl.. 

He thought it was a nice change from soup and then we only had salad for supper.. 

We went for a drive on the back roads and came across this.. 

Some forest harvesting here in rural New Brunswick.. 

It was a very cold day but I suppose the machines are heated.. smile.. 

The birds are busy this Winter.. 

I love them but don't know them very well.. 

A big flock of these ones showed up and visited for a day and then disappeared.. 

Perhaps they didn't like the accommodations.. grin.. 

Another day I cooked one of our lovely organic chickens that someone blessed us with.. 

I cooked it in this clay roaster that I found at the Thrift store.. 

I think it was more moist perhaps and the flavor was wonderful.. 

Another sign of Spring coming are the herds of deer that we see in the farm fields.. 

Very plentiful this time of year.. 

Do you have daffodils and crocuses in your part of the world.. 

I am content though with these winter days.. 

Although, I do look forward to snow drops.. 

Meanwhile, the candles are lit... 

and the fire is stoked....

Looking forward to the Lord's Day tomorrow.. 

Love going and worshiping our Creator.. 

Receiving strength for another week... 

And of course, the sweet fellowship.. 

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Making Rose Hip Oil...

Hello ..

Here is a little Winter's Day project for you.. 

You may remember that we went on a field trip before Christmas and picked these beautiful berries.. 

Rose Hips.. 

I froze them and then the other day I made some lovely face moisturizing oil ... 

We were out for a drive and I noticed that you can still find some if you look really hard.. 

We have a lot of snow here in New Brunswick but they are still here and there... 

I am sure the birds have been feeding on them but even though they are frozen they will still make a gorgeous oil for your face.. 

You only need 1 cup of them.. 

Let them thaw out and place them in your mortar... Push down a bit with your pestle just to break them up some.. 

If you don't have a mortar then just put them in a cup and juice them up a bit with the handle of a wood spoon or such.. 

Add 2 cups of Sweet Almond Oil.. 

Put the mixture in a crock pot on the lowest heat you can and let them sit in the oil for four to eight hours..

Or in your oven at the lowest heat you can put on.. 

Let the oil cool and then 

strain it through cheesecloth. I did that a couple of times... 

Add a the contents of a couple of Vitamin E capsules and 10 drops of your favorite essential oil.. 

I used lavender.. 

It smells so nice.. 

Here is a link describing the benefits of using rose hip oil.. 

Look HERE..

Hope you enjoy this little project.. 

Thanks for dropping by and have a great week.. 

God bless.. 

Linked to..Pin Junkie.

A Winter Weekend....

Good Evening everyone.. 

Hope you all had a great weekend.. 

We had a lot of snow last week and then over the weekend the warmer temps came along with rain and a lot of snow has departed.. 

I am trying not to be anxious for Spring but to remember how much we enjoy the coziness of being inside during these Winter days..

Especially the weekends.. 

We are also trying to practice some healthy measures by having oatmeal for breakfast several mornings a week along with a little healthy drink recipe I found on the Internet.. 

I can remember my Gramp drinking one something like it.. 

They say it is good for your digestion and many other things so  I am giving it a try.. 

1 T. honey 

1 T. apple cider vinegar 

a pinch of cayenne pepper and then fill up the cup with water and heat in microwave for a minute and then stir ... 

It really is not too bad... smile.. 

The Readers Digest tells the benefits HERE..

We have had quite a bit of company over the weekend.. 

My Mom and Stepfather were here for supper and some friends dropped by for a visit.. 

I love cooking for my Mom.. 

She makes me feel like a grand chef with her lovely compliments.. smile.. 

They brought us some wonderful Canadian coffees.. smile.. 

Yesterday after church some friends came by and we made a couple of meals together.. 

Seafood Pasta and Salad and Rolls and such.. 

While the men watched the race we girls  watched the fire, drank tea, chatted and looked at books..

They had brought some delicious treats and it was such fun.. 

Blessed friends and fellowship.. 

It makes for wonderful winter weekends.. 

Thank you so much for praying for sweet Olivia.. 

She is doing better but still needs prayer.. 

I told a friend I would share the recipe for Texas Hash tonight.. 

You can find it HERE..

We had it today for lunch.. 

I use the basic recipe but spice it up a bit with half of a jalapeno

pepper and as we love cumin I added a teaspoon of that.. 

Take care, dear hearts.. 

So happy you dropped by and I do love your comments... 

Hugs..  

Daily Rituals...

Hello my dears.. 

Another snowy day here in the Maritime provinces.. 

We have plenty, thank you but it keeps coming.. smile.. 

We wake up in the mornings and do our usual rituals.. 

Pray, put the coffee on and start the fire, make the list for the day and check the Internet, call my Mom, make some toast and start the laundry ...

We drink our coffee together and then 

Terry goes for a walk and I putter around.. 

He has snow to shovel and I make a loaf of bread.. 

Fold some laundry and put a pot of soup on the stove.. 

Just the usual but life is good and I appreciate it all.. 

Have a great week, sweetie pies.. 

God bless.. 

PS.. 

Please pray for a sweet grand-daughter of one of my dearest friends who had a ski accident on Saturday.. 

She is only 13 and has suffered quite a few serious injuries but we know a prayer answering God who is also our Healer.. 

Her name is Olivia.. 

Thank you so much..