My First Ministry and My Prayer Closet!

Good morning world!  As far as I can tell, today is going to be a great day, a busy one, but great.  Wednesday's are busy for me as we have school in the mornings, off to a neighboring town to teach a painting class, back home in time to get ready to meet a family at the gym, work out together, then off to their house for fellowship.  In a couple of weeks, I will be alternating going there and going to another home church for Wednesday Bible study.

With all the emotional stuff I have been going through the past couple of weeks (or more?), I have strayed away from my first ministry.  My home.  For my birthday a couple of weeks ago, P.J. cleaned the almost the whole house.  An it has stayed picked up.  My computer room/office always is a tad messy.  However, I usually know where everything is.

Because Wednesdays are now full, I will be re-vamping my weekly/daily schedules for next week.  Although I am going back to baking tomorrow, bread, biscuits, cookies and either a cake or pies.  Yum.  And I am going to be baking some gluten free type breads I can have.

Still thinking about that movie "War Room".  Where in my crazy, over stuffed house could I have a prayer closet?  I do not even have a "real" closet.  My bedroom has part of a wall with accordion doors as a closet.  My studio is too full of art and craft stuff.  The classroom is full of bookcases, desks, filing cabinet, wood cook stove, wood heat stove and more.

Some might say I do not have to be literal.  That it does not mean an actual closet.  I do not care.  I am determined to find my own place to pray without distractions.  I will keep you posted.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.  Matthew 6:6  KJV

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

What a difference a prayer makes!

Good morning world!  What a difference a prayer makes!  I have missed a day or two after my post after watching "War Room".  I had shared with a friend how I had felt after the movie and such.  

I woke up Monday morning different.  I have a new love for Patrick.  I have a re-newed spirit.  I will continue to pray for each one of my family.  For this weekend has proven to me prayer works!  

Are "things" always going to be easy?  Probably not.  Am I going to get upset again?  Probably.  Am I going to remember the things that have been said to me?  Probably.  

However, the difference is I have Jesus on my side and God is fighting my battles for me.  

If you have not seen "War Room" yet, do!  The movie is worth seeing.  I plan on seeing it again!

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6  NIV

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

My true feelings after watching War Room.

Good morning world.  This weekend we saw the movie War Room.  It was great!  I laughed. I cried.  A multitude of emotions ran through me during the course of this movie.

After, I was really really sad and upset with myself.  How many times had I prayed and done studies on how to be a more Godly wife and mother.  How many times had I cried out to the Lord?  Had I stopped too soon?  Had I given up?

I still do not have any answers to these questions.  I am just not quite as upset as I was.  Patrick held my hand after the movie.  I felt nothing.  That scared me some.  I had told him over the years the reason certain things upset me so much was because I cared so much.  That he should be worried when I get to the point that I do not care anymore.  Am I there?

I do not have the answer to that question either.

The only thing I know to do is to pray.  But today, I am not sure I can even do that.  And that is about as honest as I can get.  There are things that have been said  to me that I cannot get out of my mind.  Patrick has said "sorry" for most of it.  However, the words are still there.

I am not leaving my husband or my family.  And I know this too shall pass.  I am grateful I have Jesus to run to.  I just need to start running, I guess.

I do feel some hope though.  Maybe if my prayer life is more diligent and I spend more time in the word and with God.

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Matthew 3:33  NIV

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

First Day of Fall!

Good morning world!  Today is the first day of autumn, fall, the season after summer and just before winter!  Oh happy day!

It is funny to me that at the beginning of each season, I love it more than the others.  Fall is wonderful!  The colors are amazing!  Where I live, the leaves turn absolutely beautiful oranges, yellows, rust, then browns.  That mixed in with the evergreens, breathtaking!

Then there are all the activities, fall festivals, hay rides, bone fires, leaf peeping.  Getting out the sweaters and hoodies.  Love seeing my boys wear shorts and hoodies at the same time.  When I was a kid, I wore shorts and wind breakers.  My Mom thought that was odd too.

AND getting ready for winter!  Snow, snowmen, snowball fights, walks in the snow, snow ice cream.  Any one who knows well, knows I LOVE THE SNOW!  Maybe because most of my life, I have lived in places we did not have much snow.  And here we have all four seasons.

On a different note, my scripture today is great.  Reminds me to praise God even when my circumstances do not warrant it.  Look to Him instead of the problem.  There are benefits, even when we cannot see them at the time.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3-4 NIV

God orchestrated these seasons.  Enjoy fall today, where ever you are.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Homemade Vitamin C serum!

Good morning world.  A few weeks ago, I found a homemade recipe for Vitamin C serum. Store bought serum costs up to hundreds of dollars.  I looked at various recipes and found them to be basically the same.

Powered vitamin C, water, and vegetable glycerin.  That's it.  And some did not even use t he vegetable glycerin, just water.  Some used a couple of different oils.

I bought the vegetable glycerin and amber glass bottles and started making it.  Small amounts are made at a time as the effectiveness dissipates quickly due to light and other factors.

There are small changes at first.  The big benefits come after using the serum for about 6 months.  Vitamin C helps with the production of collagen.  As we age, that production decreases.  This serum is found to help with making our skin look younger.  I have found another great use for it!  I have had a bad patch of eczema on a finger.  The usual, traditional over the counter creams have not cleared it up.

I drop 3 or 4 drops in my hand to rub on my face.  Then a drop on a finger to rub around my eye.  The serum had got on the eczema and was so much better the next morning.  So I started putting it on daily, a couple of times a day.  After a few days my finger is almost cleared up!

Anyone who has had eczema knows how exciting this can be.   I have had it on and off my entire life.

Here is the recipe I used:

 Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon Vitamin C powder
• 1 teaspoon distilled water
• 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
• ⅛ teaspoon Vitamin E (optional) 
• small amber or dark glass bottle

Instructions

1. Mix ingredients in a small bowl until the granules are dissolved.
2. If you omit glycerin and vitamin E add an extra teaspoon of water so that your serum isn't too strong.
3. Transfer to a dark glass bottle.
4. Apply to the skin at night after cleansing and toning.
5. Let the serum soak in and then apply your moisturizer as usual.

An easy way to make sure your Vitamin C is in the perfect form to get the most benefits you can use a pH test strip. Your serum should be right around 3.5.When you apply it, a small amount of tingling is normal. If it is burning, remove it immediately. You can add more water or glycerin to the mixture to better suit your skin.

This recipe came from Primallyinspired.com.   I have made several batches now and am very happy with it!  I have made it with and without the glycerin.  I liked them both.  

Have a great day in the Lord!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

It is a Monday!

Good morning world.  Have a pretty full schedule today.  Have a meeting in Mountain Grove this morning, a business lunch at noon, at the gym this evening.  In between, blessing the house, laundry, and what for supper.

Supper, going to put something in the crock pot and add left overs to that at the dinner table.  Laundry, I will get it started in a few minutes while I am taking a shower.  Blessing the house will happen this afternoon between the business lunch and gym.

School will wait till tomorrow.  I am sure the boys will be happy with that.  We have had a couple of days of down time with school.  Sometimes I think it is necessary.  Public school has teacher in service days, vacation days, half days for this or that.  So we have been taking a couple of much needed deschooling days.

I cheated this whole weekend from Friday to last night.  Now I am back on the diet.  I am thinking about modifing it some.  Some where between the Atkins and Palio.  As far as I can tell, the Palio seems to be like the Atkins but with some fruit added.  Not sure how this is going to work, but I am determined to make it work.

This is a new week.  A new day.  A new year for me.  (Post birthday)  Wonder what God has in store for me and my family......

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Yesterday was MY Birthday! What a day!

Good  morning world!  Yesterday was an awesome day!  It was my birthday and my youngest son, P.J. had the whole day planned out.

P.J. was going to get up before me to make coffee and breakfast if I wanted it.  Tyler got up before him and made coffee.  I woke  up before P.J., but after Tyler, so coffee was made.  Later in the morning P.J. made some pancakes for me.  I know, it was not on my diet.  However, it was my birthday!

I could not  help do anything.  P.J. was busy cleaning because he knows I love a clean house or so he said.  Patrick took me to lunch.  I figured something was up then.  Patrick does not take me to lunch.  By the time we got back, several people were in my house for a surprise party.

They had hidden the cars behind the stacked hay so I could not see them.  I was very surprised!  Although I slightly suspected.  I was, nonetheless, surprised!  Amy and her family stayed for a while, then had to leave.  But I was so happy to see her here.  Patrick's Mom was here.  As well as another family.  My sister in law and father in law showed up later.

P.J. started chicken on the grill as everyone visited.  We ate, laughed, and talked.  There where 2 cakes as it was close to the Mom of the other family's birthday a couple of days before.

Then there was presents!  I had already opened Amy's present.  A new journal and pens!  She knows me.  Plus it was pink!

Tommy had taken us out to Chinese the night before as my present.  Patrick took me to Mexican for lunch.  I guess that was my present from him.  P.J. had already given me a new fall table cloth so the table would be pretty.  He also gave me a couple of pretty prints that  had cats in them.  Mom gave me a new kitty calendar for the rest of this year and next with some money (always a plus).  The other family gave me some camo shot glasses for my Dad's bar.

Then David's present came out.  He gave me a new camp chair.  Different than the rest of our camp chairs.  It's canvas with pink camo trim and from RealTree.  I know how much it cost.  We had looked at them once at the local home center.  WOW!

All in all, it was a fantastic birthday!  The fellowship with family and friends was great!  One family I sorely missed, however, was the Griswold's.  They are usually here for everything.  They were at a couple of shows for their company, Sturdiguns.  I will be seeing them today for home church though.

I am blessed beyond measure for sure!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

How deeply words and actions can affect others

Good afternoon world.  We took today off from school to get some things done around here and to just take a break from the books.  The boys have been hitting it pretty hard and heavy.

Here is something I started thinking about while I was mopping just a bit ago.

I use to be really really clean, almost to the point of being OCD.  I worked at it as a young adult.  My norm was it did not bother me to drop my dirty clothes on the floor instead of the dirty clothes hamper, just as long as it was on a clean floor.

When Patrick and I first got married, he was ecstatic to find I kept a clean home.  He pretty much knew that before, but not to the extent you do when you get married and finally move in together.  We have been married 18 1/2 years.  So when did it become a struggle for me to continue to keep the house clean when it was my norm?

I cannot say it was when we got the boys.  I was married before and had 5 step sons.  Raised 4 out of the 5 and kept the house clean then.

Then I remembered an incident that happened between Patrick, a foster son, and myself.  I was working on the floors when the foster son came home from school.  I was on my hands and knees scrubbing the floors.  He had never seen anyone do that before.  At that house, the kitchen and dining room was small so it was not a big job to me.  Patrick came home from work right after I was finished.  He walked in with muddy boots.  The foster son said, "Mom just mopped the floor on her hands and knees."  He had a shocked look on his face.  Patrick just shrugged his shoulders and walked back to the bedroom.

I have never scrubbed the floors since then.  If that was all the respect he had for my work, then I was not going to continue to do it to the level I had before.  With the scripture I have been quoting, I should not continue to act on this feeling.  Meaning if I am to work as for the Lord instead of man, I should go about my work for the Lord instead of Patrick.

Have to think about how I am going to go about this.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

A day in the life of.....

Good morning world.  Today is one of those crazy busy days.  School this morning, lunch, painting class in a neighboring town this afternoon, then church tonight.  So when do I get some basic things done like picking up and the one load of laundry I do a day?

As soon as I get off here from writing this, I will head into the kitchen, start breakfast for everyone.  As that is going, head into the bathroom to start a load of laundry.  Then as everyone is eating, I'll pick up what ever needs picked up in the living room.

While school is going on, I will eventually need to come back to the house for something.  At that time I will take care of breakfast dishes.  It all works out.

Yesterday I had a reaction to a vitamin I started taking, red swollen face, red going down my chest, back and arms, and a tingling burning sensation.  Had it once before a couple of weeks ago.  Thought it was a reaction to something I had eaten.  Guess not.

Took some benedryl and slept most of the afternoon.  Did not get every thing done I wanted.  So tomorrow will be a crazy canning day, Broth, chicken, chicken soup, elderberry syrup.  Going to make horehound cough drops too for the winter.  Going to be fun!

Have a fun busy day all!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Too much to try to get done today!

Good morning world.  Have you ever  had so much to get done in a day that you sort of freeze up?  That has happened to me this morning.  Not that I cannot get everything done, just getting it organized in my mind and started.

School this morning.  Finish a couple of things from yesterday.  Need to get bones roasting in the oven to make broth from to can.  Get ribs in the crock pot for supper tonight.  Clean out the second fridge.  Take the rest of the berries out of the freezer to make syrup.  Make horehound cough drops. Get a painting job finished.  Straighten up my studio to get ready to have classes.  And getting apples today too, making apple sauce!

I know there is more, I just cannot think right now.  Need more coffee.  SMILE, coffee.

Okay, this is short today as I need to get my day moving a tad bit faster.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Brand New Week

Good morning world.  It is a brand new week!  I have several things in mind to get acomplished this week.  I always wonder if it is going to happen.  The usual as far as I can tell going on today, with the exception of doing some things to get ready for winter.

The mornings are a lot cooler than before.  To me, perfect camping weather.  The fence needs a going over.  Wood needs chopped.  The area outside Patrick's shop and my studio needs straightened up.  Part of the barn needs some work.  Just some every day type of things.  Most of those are the boys jobs.

Mine is to finish canning.  Get ready to switch summer to winter clothes to see what we need.  I still have to clean out the fridges from Saturday too.  And today is blessing the house along with laundry.

Today I feel very blessed to be able to do all I need to do!  Today I will purpose to follow this scripture also:

"23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,"  Colossians 3:23  NIV

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Sunday Blessings

Good morning world and happy Sunday to you!  Yesterday's list was almost finished.  The refrigerators did not get cleaned out as of yet.  I will be putting that on tomorrows list.  However, everything else was finished!  So happy to have the computer room cleaned out.  Just have a couple of things to go through still.  Not a big deal though.  The carpet and floors are great in here.

Today we will  be heading to our friends the Griswolds for home church.  We love spending the day with them after church.  The time of fellowship with them is precious to me as do not live that close.  We are like minded in many ways.

Homeschooling our children.  Courtship for our children.  Our views about modesty.  And so much more.  Several of her boys are close to my boys ages, a plus.

As soon as everyone is finished with chores and breakfast, I will wash up the dishes and grab what I am bringing for the meal, then off we go.

Today's scripture is

"Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble."  1 Peter 3:8  NIV


Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Plans for today

Good morning world.  It is Saturday and I already have my day planned.  I wonder if I ever wake up and think "I want to just do nothing"?  Not in a long time.

Well, I am back to this house, family, home is my ministry again.  Went through a rough couple of weeks, probably more like a couple of months.  I feel like I am back again.  My list for today is to clean out 2 fridges, have everyone help me clear out the computer room, clean it really good then put stuff back, go grocery shopping for a special dinner for Patrick's Dad, then if I can this evening spend time in my studio.

What a list, huh?  How does this bless my family and home?  Let's see.  The 2 fridges, it is just time to clean them out.  If we cannot find something, then it is time.  The computer room is almost the last room to get a deep cleaning.  If everyone helps me, I can get it done faster.  And it is the room we pass through to get to the living room.

The shopping is fun..... so hopefully this evening I will have time to paint.  Have a fun and relaxing day!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Attack, fighting back with prayer!

Good morning world.  A few days since I have written anything.  A lot has been happening around our house, both good and not so good.

The good, I have gotten a reassurance that Patrick and I are following the right path for our family in regards to not only homeschooling, but also courtship.  We get some grief from our oldest.  However, he knows that we only want what is best for them and he also knows we believe this is God's plan for our family.

The not so good, our family has seemingly been going through some "stuff".  I believe because we had started family devotion and prayer time again, we have been under attack.  When we spend the time together praying, it builds our family stronger.

The past few days have been very rough on all of us.  My oldest has been acting out worse lately.  A decision we made was to have him take some time out from his job outside of the home.  He can go to work with Patrick when we think he is ready.  Then we will help him find a job on a farm or ranch somewhere.

Patrick and I have been going through some things too.  Things were said.  I tend to get my feelings hurt.  If it is something I have done wrong, after a bit, I will go to ask for forgiveness.  This time, in my opinion the way things were handled, were not so good.  Usually when that happens, I get quiet.  This time, I am afraid I lashed out.  I am not proud of my actions.

Reacting instead of responding.

Two wrongs do not make a right.  We have talked about this some.  Night before last I lost a lot, and I mean a lot, of sleep.  The Bible says to not let the sun go down on your anger.  I did.  Forgive me Lord.

Today we will have family prayer time again.  And I will ask my family for forgiveness for lashing out at Patrick and being not so loving to my boys.

Tyler keeps asking if I am ok.  My answer is always sure.  He has forgotten when I say sure, it usually means no.

Today I will not only be praying for my family, but also yours.  This attack was strong, but God is stronger!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

My Life!

Good morning world.   I just shared a memory post on facebook.  It was from a year ago today.  Of course we had  2 extra families living with us then.  However, the things I have been doing over the past several years are basically the same.

School with the boys.  Cleaning up the house.  This time of the year, canning.  Painting in my studio if I have the time.  And wanting to go camping in the worse way!

This has caused me to do some extra thinking this morning.  I know, I know.  You can see the smoke rising up from my head, or at the very least hear the hamsters on the wheel.

Anyway, this blog is titled My Life.  And this is my life.  We have school, I clean house, I can veggies, meats, and broths this time of the year.  Before it gets too cold, I really really want to go camping (almost every weekend but it does not happen),  

One of the things I have not got back into a regular habit of is panting.  I love to paint.  I have a studio.  I want to spend more time in there.  Just have to make it more of a priority!

Time to get the rest of the family up and going.  Then school, errands, and such as my day goes.

God is what is making my day even better!  What about you?

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth

Electronics? To have or not to have?

Good morning world.  I have been out of pocket for a few days now and want to explain why.  First of all, we went on a last minute camping trip over the weekend. The phone service was sketchy at best and my phone ended up dying the first night we were there.  So I pretty much left it off on the charger.

I missed a dear friend's child's birthday party.  And missed Sunday church at the Griswold's.  I felt badly about both.  Sunday at camp, however, we had a time of devotion to the Lord.  I read a part of a sermon from a book called The Courtship of Sarah McLean.

A book I highly recommend.  Each time I read this book, it challenges me to be a better mother, wife, and woman of God.

Then we prayed together.  We have not like that in quite a while.

On Monday, instead of getting up, reading a verse, then getting on this laptop or checking my phone, I just did not!  I got up, made coffee, cleaned the bathroom, straightened the kitchen a bit more, swept the floors, Got everyone up about 7.  After several distractions, we had a time of family prayer again.
I choose to not have the TV on during the day at all.  Usually I will turn it on during our lunch.  Sometimes we will get side tracked and not get much accomplished. Monday we worked..

Yesterday was the same.  Except I did turn on the TV during lunch.  When I turned it off right after lunch, I was met with moaning and complaining about work to be done.  So I made the decision to not have it on during the day at all.

I have gotten more done in the past couple of days than I did all last week. At least it feels that way

On a deeper level, I believe the Lord is telling me to back off a bit.  I can get caught up on facebook, email, and texting and lose hours if I am not careful.

Here has been some other results of the past few days.  Patrick, my dear husband, has renewed his relationship with Jesus.  Has he said anything to me?  Nope.  Fruits of the Spirit are evident.  Even the boys have noticed.

I got very upset with myself yesterday.  I lost my temper a couple of times during school yesterday and walked out once.  I kept thinking why can't I have the results that Patrick has?  When I am seeking a closer relationship with Jesus, I seem to be crankier, lose my temper easier.  How am I showing the boys Jesus then?  Especially when they see the big difference in Patrick?

I will continue to pray about this!

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Just some of my thoughts and actions,

Elizabeth