Of Cars and Chickens

September 8.

First comes the car.  Jacob bought one.  And God is good (all the time).  Fernando and Jacob ended up all the way in Evanston at the Auto Barn, and they got a sweet deal on a 2013 Nissan Sentra.  Jacob lets me drive it, since our F150 is out of commission (it drives in reverse only).

September 9.

Next comes the chicken.  Due to a mix-up in ordering a few months earlier, we ended up with four chickens (and two dozen eggs).   We found one last chicken from , so we stuffed it with garlic, rubbed it with olive oil, and sprinkled it with rosemary.  Then we lay sliced lemons over it and baked it (350F for 1 to 1.5 hours).  Scrumptious.

Yes, the chicken was a blessing, because we were running out of food--mostly meat, dairy, and produce.  To find this chicken still in the freezer from our "food mix-up" was indeed a blessing, and one we thoroughly enjoyed.  It was the Lord's reminder that He is still in control of our situation, and will always be in control.  He is sovereign over every circumstance we encounter.

Thank You for feeding us, not only food we can see, but with the meat of Your Word.  I'm so glad we're Yours.


Back to life,
Christine

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Counting My Blessings #2

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Food Report

We have been blessed in our grocery budget lately--meaning that we haven't had to spend as much as we normally would!  The Lord has seen fit to bless us in two ways:  1) through food stored up either by canning or in the freezer, and 2) through others.  We have thanked Him (and them!) more than once as we enjoyed tasty meals and side dishes.  And once again, several potential big bills are looming, and my mind wonders how we're going to pay for them, even as the Holy Spirit reassures my heart that I am His.  Do not fret, dear child.  You are mine.

We enjoyed blueberry muffins for breakfast once last week, with blueberries picked this past summer and stored in our freezer.

We used this tasty hors d'oeuvre as a topping for our spaghetti one evening.  It is a cream cheese, pesto, and dried tomato molded dip for bread or crackers.  Boy, was it tasty on our Italian!  Danny and his dad "fought" over the last portion for tonight's leftover pasta dinner.  :)

We made the usual two pounds of spaghetti, a mixture of regular organic and whole-wheat organic.  My five men can eat a lot!

We also pulled out of the freezer a package of fresh-sliced mozzarella cheese to use as a topping for our pasta.  We were blessed with a number of packages, and this was the last one.  Since I'm part Italian, I savored every bite of this; there is nothing like the taste of fresh mozzarella.  :)

Below is the finished product on my plate, sans the cream cheese/pesto topping. 

I was also able to add some sliced hot Italian sausage to the spaghetti sauce, part of which came from my canned supply of sauce.  Every time I looked in the freezer, I found another package of this wonderful sausage from Nature's Choice Farm.  It reminded me of the account of the widow whose jar of oil never ran out.  I remember purchasing a few packages of the sausage, but we've eaten it once a week for the past month.  Either way, God is good.

Thank You, Lord, for feeding our family with good food!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Our Day of Thanks -- Post-Mealtime!

As I worked on editing the rest of our Thanksgiving pictures, I found yet one more thing to thank the Lord for--the fact that He allowed me to take so many photos!!  Usually I have five or six, and that's it.  But I get to post a "Thanksgiving, Part II" today!  Yay!

Okay, back to the story.  :)

The meal was prepared, cooked or baked, and set out on the table.  My dad gave thanks to the Lord for not only the food, but family, and health, as well.  Mealtime for our gang is always a talkative time, with laughter all around.  We share family jokes about the rolls and butter (sorry if you're not family!).  Mealtime is special.

There were a lot of leftovers this year!  We always worry about making enough food, but there's always too much.  Why is that, I wonder?  What a blessing, though, to have leftovers to share!  We usually share all the food among ourselves, making sure my bachelor brother has a good portion to take home.

Different people help each year to clean up.  My dad chipped in with rinsing some dishes and loading the dishwasher.

What invariably happens after mealtime?  You guessed it:

Our family warns you that you're fair game if you fall asleep!  We photographers have turned it into an art form, especially when we're on vacation.  Post-mealtime on Thanksgiving works just as well, too!  Happy naptime!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

FFG -- Our Day of Thanks Part I

My dear friend Lori hosts Friday Farm Girls at Heart every week;

please click on her button to visit her blog

and find out how you can participate!

I'm so glad Lori asked us to share our Thanksgivings today!  I'm not so happy that I don't have the time to edit all the photos I took!  That's okay, though, 'cause I get to share Thanksgiving over several posts--yay!

Every year, we spend a day or two in food preparation, then on Thanksgiving Day, pack it all up in the back of our Suburban and make the short 20-minute drive to my parents' home.

My mom already had a few Christmas decorations set out!  She is so much better at it than I am.  Besides the tree, I put one or two things out, and hope it looks good.  :)

The aroma of turkey roasting in the oven fills the house as we all eagerly tromp on inside to greet Grandpa and Grandma.  Everyone shares hugs, and Thomas takes the initiative of giving me one, too--he's so silly but he doesn't realize I appreciate it!

Of course, Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without some football on TV.  My parents have a finished basement, which is nice since the guys turn on the TV down there, and the kitchen/family room area remains conducive for conversation and laughter.

Mom wanted me to take a picture of the turkey as it cooked.  It already looked yummy, but had a little longer to go.

Mom makes everything from scratch--and so do I.  I got her to show off her homemade applesauce, one of the guys' favorites.

Of course, having my camera meant I had to find some good photos!  I took advantage of the side light from the lamp to snag this image of Danny.  Nice!

Mom toasted me as we both worked to get all of the dishes ready.  There was a LOT of food.

Jacob spent the waiting-for-dinner time reading a book I had recommended.  He finished it by the day's end, of course.  Typical Jacob.

The turkey was done!

The table was filling up.

Time for the meal!  I forgot my tripod, so I'm (typically) not in the photo this year.  And I got just part of Jacob!

Of course dinner was filled with delicious food and lots of conversation and laughter.  My dad sure knows how to have fun!

And that's the end of Part I.  Now it's time to go do laundry, and to prepare for a trip to Wisconsin tomorrow!  (We're all excited about driving three hours to get a Christmas tree; how's that for weird?!)

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  "See" you soon!!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 20

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

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Today I thank the Lord for my husband.  Fernando is as unique as his name, and we're all sure that God created him, then broke the mold.

I have said that his eyes are the color of joy, and he brings laughter like a good medicine to our home.  He balances me in every way!

He leads his family and his sons love him.  So do I.  :)

May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!

For your love is better than wine.

Song of Solomon 1:2 nasb

Thank You, Lord, for my husband.

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

to be encouraged by others' blessings,

and to participate!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 18

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

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Tamara has asked us to share Thanksgiving traditions and memories, which I will do today.  So today, I thank the LORD for Thanksgivings past, the wonderful traditions shared, and memories stored up.

Above is my mom's and dad's dining room, set with almost everything but the turkey.  My sister-in-law is placing her dish on the table--she is an awesome cook!  And my mom is simply amazing:  she makes a turkey with homemade stuffing in the bird, so delicious!  Plus, everything is from scratch:  the cranberry sauce, steamed broccoli (everyone's favorite vegetable), several types of rolls and breads...  I make sweet potatoes, lemon-garlic mashed potatoes, and one or two types of squash.

For dessert, my mom and I contribute several pies.  She usually makes two or three, and I usually make a couple.  We have French apple or cranberry-apple, pumpkin (I make a yummy pumpkin-pecan pie), lemon custard (a new favorite).  There are only three ladies in our little 11-person clan, but we all love to cook!

The day is spent in food preparation, amidst laughter, conversation, and the guys sneaking in to try to snitch food samples.  Our young men may pull out chess or Settlers of Catan or another game.  We usually share prayer and eat around 2pm, so that we can relax afterward with cleanup, and more fellowship and laughter.  We also talk about Christmas plans--in whose home will we have Christmas this year?  (There are four to choose from!)  What about gifts?  Gift ideas?

Around 6pm, the guys are the ones who start tossing out hints about dessert!  Out come the pies, whipped cream, coffee or tea...

Thanksgiving is a day of family togetherness, conversation, and laughter.  Since we're a mixed bunch, specifically Christian activities (reading the Word, etc.) are not done.  But we love our family and this very special day that we share together.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,

Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

For the LORD is a great God

And a great King above all gods.

Psalm 95:2-3 nasb

Thank You, Lord, for Thanksgiving Day, and the opportunity to give thanks to You every day.

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

to be encouraged by others' blessings,

and to participate!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 13

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

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Today I thank the Lord for hands to work, that set to the task and see it through.  (Thomas' hands are featured in this post!)

The Lord has given me two hands, a dominant hand and a helper hand.  I need them both in order to perform the many tasks before me in my day.

The helper hand may hold a nail, and the dominant hand may swing the hammer--but neither hand is more important than the other.  I need them both!

I praise the Lord for the hands in my household, busy about the work of the Lord.

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,

But the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Proverbs 10:4 nasb

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words,

And the deeds of a man's hands will return to him.

Proverbs 12:14 nasb

Regarding the woman who fears the LORD:

Give her the product of her hands,

And let her works praise her in the gates.

Proverbs 31:31 nasb

Thank You, Lord, for hands.

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

to be encouraged by others' blessings,

and to participate!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 12

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

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Today I thank the Lord for teenagers, and more specifically, teenage sons!  They are amazing, marvelous people, and I have enjoyed the presence of four very different ones in my home.

Danny, the 17-year-old

Since both photos are of Danny, I particularly thank the Lord for this amazing teenager.  Boy, this little guy was interesting--we half-jokingly said that if Danny made it alive to his fifth birthday, we would have a Miracle Birthday Party.  He did, so we did!  He was Superboy--able to slide down a staircase in ten seconds flat, scale a chain-link fence barefoot before we could blink, climb on top of the washer or dryer unassisted, and fearlessly climb out onto the roof to make a bed for himself for the evening.  Um--these were all before the age of four...

To see the young man of God that Danny has become is truly a miracle.  He is tender-hearted--all little children love him--and yet practical, and can be heard singing (beautifully) at any given moment. 

Each of our sons has his own personality and character, and I still marvel that the Lord used Fernando and me to create four completely separate and unique individuals to the praise of His glory.

Danny, 85% done with his college English essay

Our four sons are goofy and serious, loud and introspective.  They're in each others' rooms, lives, and conversations.  (They're in the fridge a lot, too!)  God has forged their bond of brotherhood, both by blood and by the Spirit, for eternity!  Thank You, Lord, for teenage sons!  And thank You for Danny!!

Let our sons in their youth be as grown-up plants...

Psalm 144:12a nasb

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

to be encouraged by others' blessings,

and to participate!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 11

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

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Today I thank the Lord for His food, both physical to nourish the body, and spiritual to nourish the soul.  In our fallen state, our bodies grow weak and require food and water to function.  The growling emptiness and the dry thirst remind us that we are weak, and that we need to rely on Him for strength.

Just as our physical bodies grow weak without nourishment, our spiritual souls require food.  Fellowship with the Lord--in reading and prayer--and spiritual sharpening with our spouses, children, and the community of believers is vital to the growth of our souls.

He has made His wonders to be remembered;

The LORD is gracious and compassionate.

He has given food to those who fear Him;

He will remember His covenant forever.

He has made known to His people the power of His works,

In giving them the heritage of the nations.

Psalm 111:4-6 nasb [emphasis mine]

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

to be encouraged by others' blessings,

and to participate!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 10

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

Please click on her tag below to find out more!

Today I thank the Lord for a garden harvest in November.  I've had a vegetable garden for three or four years, but have never enjoyed its sweet (fresh) rewards into November, or even October!  My tomato plants were usually done by the end of September, and that was that.

My garden harvest reminds me of God's bountiful blessings in my life--not only of food for the belly, but nourishment for my soul, my husband, children, family, heart-sisters, a warm house...  Thank You, Lord, for working in my life to produce the fruit of Your Spirit!

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

to be encouraged by others' blessings,

and to participate!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 9

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

Please click on her tag below to find out more!

This morning, I thank the Lord for sisters.  No, I don't have any.  Nor do I have daughters.  But I have so many wise and wonderful heart-sisters!  I share my life with my husband, and we are one in the Lord, but there's something about a sister who knows and understands.

I couldn't find a verse to describe my heart-sisters, but these verses show a little of how we love each other.

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved,

put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

bearing with one another, and forgiving each other,

whoever has a complaint against anyone;

just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Beyond all these things put on love,

which is the perfect bond of unity.

Colossians 3:12-14 nasb

Thank You, Lord, for heart-sisters!!

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about Month of Thanksgiving,

to be encouraged by others' blessings,

and to participate!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne