FOR TODAY, Monday, December 22, 2008...

Outside my window... the Sun is shining brightly and the wind is blowing mightily – I bet there’ll be lots of sticks to pick up later.

I am thinking... how blessed I am to be able to be at home to make things warm and welcoming for my family.

I am thankful for... so many things! For this time of year that makes us stop and reflect on the best & most beautiful gift of all, our Lord Christ.

From the learning rooms... just every day things, good music (really listening to Handel’s Messiah), discussing what we are reading, reflecting on our Advent Devotions and praying for those God has given us to pray for. Oh, and 20 minutes a day spent on handwriting practice! ;^)

From the kitchen... some gifts- Apricot-Pineapple Jam & cheesecakes, and a headstart on Christmas Eve dinner – Onion- Mustard rolls & King’s Hawaiian Bread.

I am wearing... Blue jeans, a favorite t-shirt (with burgundy flowers) and my old khaki sweater…my ancient black slides on my feet.

I am creating... a few sewing projects for Christmas gifts, can’t tell though!
I am going... to have to venture out eventually for just a couple of more things and a few groceries.

I am reading... the delightful “Anne & Frederick What-If” entitled “The Little Particulars of the Circumstance” by Susan Kaye over at her blog, what fun!

I am hoping... that Conrad will be home soon, he went in to work last night.

I am hearing... Shayna practicing her piano “Give me that old-time religion” and several carols.

Around the house... People doing chores upstairs, the smell of apricots, laundry waiting to be started and little snippets of felt all over the couch from late night ornament projects.

One of my favorite things... early morning with a hot cup of coffee and blessed quiet so that I can think!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Early this week, a mad scramble to get things finished. (I had the flu and some other things that took my attention and made it impossible to stay on schedule last week!) Our son, Gaelan and his Emily Dearest will come for Christmas Eve dinner, Advent devotions and gift giving, then we will head on over to sister Kathryn’s after begniets in the morning to hang out all day, playing games and just enjoying each other’s company.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
I would like to put up a Christmas tree picture, but am not the camera person in our house…so I will just put up the family picture from the wedding.

Read other Daybook's at SimpleWoman's Daybook site.

Check out the Mother Letter Project. I’ve only read a couple of the letters but they are good…and I like the idea very much.

I learned about it in a convoluted way, (like so many things in the blog world!). Amy’s Humble Musings linked to the letter written by Ann at A Holy Experience…I thought that that letter was excellent and saw the link to the Mother Letter Project. So get a cup of coffee or tea and read one (but only while the kids are otherwise occupied). Merry Christmas, Moms!

A New Kind of Thanksgiving Day

For the last couple of days I have found myself spending more time than usual in prayer.

You see, I have a friend who has a terrible injury, he is in excruciating pain requiring morphine and while he waits to see one of the only two physicians in this country who will treat his injury I am praying for him – every hour. Won’t you join me in praying for my friend and his family?

And also, I have another friend. She and her husband thought he just had a terrible case of pneumonia. It is actually lung cancer and the Dr. says that there is only a tiny sliver of hope that he will ever be off life support again. She is reeling from the shock and spending all her time at his side while their mostly grown children gather. So, I pray for dear Anne & Don and their family as well.

So, I shed tears and pray on Thanksgiving Day, crying out to God for His mercy on these loved ones. And I thank Him that He is God of the universe who holds all things in His hands. And that He loves me, and these friends.

“…in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philipians 4:6b,7

A Thanksgiving Recipe

I made this dressing (stuffing) for Gaelan & Emily's rehearsal dinner.

Cornbread Dressing with Andouille Sausage
2 c. chopped onion
3 c. chopped celery
1 lb andouille, diced
1 stick butter
6 c. cornbread, crumbled
3 c. stale or toasted white bread, cubed
2 tbs. poultry seasoning
1 tsp. each, celery seed, sage, salt
3 eggs, well beaten
2-3 c. broth
Put crumbled bread and seasonings in a large bowl.
Sauté the onion, celery & andouille with butter in a large skillet until the onion is transparent and the andouille is beginning to brown. Add to the bread mixture. Mix.
Add the eggs and broth (should be wet, the eggs give this a soufflé type texture.) and turn into a greased baking pan or pans and bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until hot & golden on top.

Cornbread
Mix 2 cups each of cornmeal & white flour, ½ cup sugar, 1 tsp. salt, 2Tbs +2 tsp. baking powder in a large bowl.
Mix 2 eggs, ½ cup vegetable oil & 2 cups milk together. Add to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
Pour into two greased 9x13” pans (for thinnish cornbread) or 1- 11x14” pan for cornbread you want to split in half to butter. Bake in a 425° oven for 30 minutes or so.

Note for those who don't have access to real andouille...Costco sells a wonderful chicken andouille that tastes better than some andouille I've had from New Orleans. You could substitute any spicy smoked sausage in this recipe.

A Good Article

by one of my favorite speakers, Voddie Baucham.

"It's Not All Bad"

Wedding Snapshots 3

I'm so busy starting a new diet, and getting my kids back into their lesson routines (we took off the whole month of October...not even required readings!)








So here are a few more pics.




the reception and a glimpse of the work & helpers behind it.

The first dance was "hole in the wall" and the wedding party danced it.

More dancing!

The cakes!

Steven's "best man's speech"

After we sang 128b "Blest the Man that Fears Jehovah" the couple left the reception.

Bye to Daddy & "little" brother.

Wedding Snapshots take 2

Gaelan & Emily

The Wedding Party

Isaac clowning

Groomsmen, waiting...

Steven, David & Isaac

Shayna & her newfound friend, Meghan

Election 2008 results are in!

For a timely reminder, read Doug Wilson's article from a few days ago. It is excellent.

Ten Things to Keep in Mind After the Election.

1. God is still Father, Christ is still at His right hand, and the Holy Spirit is still abroad in the world, recreating that world according to the image of Christ. When the nations conspire against Him, He laughs at them.

2. The most important thing we can do for our nation, and for the world around us, is to gather for worship every Lord's Day. The privilege of voting in presidential elections comes to us every four years, while we are graced with the opportunity to take the Lord's Supper week to week. Right worship reforms the Church, and is therefore God's central instrument for remaking the world. For this reason, we must insist on worship that is in accordance with Scripture. Judgment begins with the household of God. Our generation is fatherless. In the power of the Spirit, in the name of the Son, we must therefore worship the Father.

Read the rest...

One more for today!

The cake...

catching up on a little blog reading...

I saw this post at Flourishing Mother.

AMEN.

A few Snapshots, take 1

From the rehearsal.

From the rehearsal dinner.

Beautiful maidens, sister Christine, friend Meghan, Emily & sister-in-law Shayna

My hug! Conrad looking on.

Brothers, Gaelan & Isaac

We're still recovering...doing laundry, trying to find my kitchen counters, returning items to the lenders such as platters, candle sticks, vases... God is so good!

just a few more days!

Here is a link to my Pastor's family's blog where his wife, Sara has written about the quilt the girls made for Emily.

Please pray for our family this week as we prepare for Gaelan's wedding. I will check back in again after we recover!

Blessings!

Still getting ready.

Brrr! It's chilly outside. Gaelan has just left to go to try-outs for Tactics Team. He doesn't think he'll make it this time. He's had far more important things to do than work out lately. He says he just wants to do a respectable job at it. So, ya'll can pray however the Lord leads there.

We have less than 10 days to go before the wedding. Yesterday I spent about 4 hours shopping with my kind and patient youngest son looking for the shoes and jewelry to go with what I'm wearing for the wedding. So, now THAT'S done!

I have decided (after discussing it with a fellow baker) to not freeze the cakes ahead, but to work on them just a couple of days before the wedding. So, this is how my schedule looks.

This week:
Thursday-Saturday - a thorough cleaning of the much neglected house and yard.

Sunday is our day of rest (thank you Lord!) We are planning to picnic at the York River after church.

Monday I'm taking down Shayna's hair and grocery shopping for fresh ingredients.

Tuesday Shayna's hair gets deep conditioned and I prepare to bake.

Wednesday I will begin to bake, crumb coat, wrap & chill cakes. I will also thaw the chicken breasts for one of the main dishes at the party.

Thursday I will begin to thaw the food for the rehearsal dinner, brine the chicken breasts, finish baking any cakes not baked and make the filling for the cake. I will also make the buttercream for the cakes.

Friday is the day before the wedding and the rehearsal dinner. I will ice & stack the cakes and transport them to the walk-in cooler at the reception hall. Then will get started heating up and cooking for the rehearsal dinner.

Rehearsal is at 4:30, so I'll get ushered down the aisle and then leave for where the dinner is at in order to be ready for dinner at 6:15.

Then, I should be free on Saturday to get my nails done before the wedding? Maybe, maybe not!

I'm not sure when Shayna's hair is going to get done at that time. A friend has offered to do it for me, I am going to take her up on it. Perhaps Thurs or Fri.

No matter how I figure it, Thursday and Friday will be very busy days. Pray for us all as the wedding approaches.

Thanks!

A Tea Party & Fruit Scones

Many of the young ladies and some of the moms who have been blessed by Emily’s ministry over the years she has been here participated in making an embroidered quilt for her. Today is the luncheon where she will be presented with it.

I will have to get a picture of it because it is amazing! Many of these ladies had never done embroidery but all of them did an amazing job. Most of the patterns are copied from vintage patterns and the colors are all in muted deep colors such as burgundy, navy and smoky blues, deep rose and mossy greens. I know Emily is going to be delighted and touched.

The luncheon is going to be a dress-up tea party. Shayna and I made fruit scones to share.

Here’s the recipe:
Fruited Oat Scones
*1 ½ cups oat flour
1 ½ cups a.p. flour
1/3 cup plus 2 tbs. sugar
2 ½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¾ tsp. salt
¾ c. butter
1 cup buttermilk
¾ cup chopped dried fruit (currants, apricots, craisins, golden raisins)
1 tsp. grated orange zest
1 Tbs. heavy cream
¼ tsp. cinnamon
Preheat oven to 400°F. Use an ungreased baking sheet. Combine the flours, 1/3 cup of the sugar, baking powder, baking soda & salt in a mixing bowl. Stir with a fork to mix well and aerate.
Cut the butter into the flour mixture, using a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture resembles fresh crumbs.
Add the buttermilk, fruit & orange rind. Mix only until the dry ingredients are moistened. Gather the dough into a ball & press so it holds together. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured board and knead lightly twelve times.
Divide the dough into two & pat each half into a circle ½- ¾” thick. In a small bowl, combine the cream, cinnamon and remaining 2 Tbs. sugar, stirring to blend. Brush the dough with the glaze. Cut each circle into 8-wedge shaped pieces. Place the scones slightly apart on the baking sheet. Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until tops are browned. Makes 16 wedges.
Whirl oatmeal in a food processor or blender to make oat flour.
We often pat these out and cut with a sharp, metal heart-shaped cutter and then brush with the glaze.

Cream Cheese Spread for muffins and scones:
1 8oz. block of cream cheese, softened
1 Tbs. butter, softened
1/3 cup powdered sugar
½ tsp. vanilla
dash of ground mace
Mix all ingredients with electric mixer until smooth. Serve at room temperature.

Here it is Wednesday

… and not unexpectedly I am not very far in my To Do List.

I have a lot of shopping and even price comparing to do, today.
I have two pans of Cornbread & Andouille Dressing (Stuffing) made and need to make four more. (Then freeze them.) Plan to do that today as well.
Then I have the Shrimp Etouffee to make. Thursday & Friday, I’m thinking.
Then I need to start making the cakes. (Next week)

The way my day goes is morning Quiet Times, breakfast, a little blogging for my sanity then housework until Lunch.

Then I get to work on Wedding stuff. Yesterday I started before lunch and today, the housework is going to be all up to the kiddos.

Gaelan’s To Do list is getting shorter, though and that’s a good thing.
Rings bought, vows written, apartment secured, insurance taken care of, tux measured, honeymoon arranged…. He just a few more very important things to do, such as get the license!

We were all happy to hear that he got his own squad car last night, very exciting!

I have heard from Conrad only a little, while at Presbytery/General Assembly. He says that they are very busy with Presbytery until lunch, then General Assembly after until dinner and then worship in the evening and starting all over again the next day. He sounds tired.

Tonight my sister and Heather have invited us over to their house (the Dornan’s are living with Kath, right now, as well as another family!) for dinner, tonight. I volunteered a vegetable and Cake! What else? I’m making a batch of the recipe I’m planning to use for the groom’s cake along with the same filling and icing. Nothing like getting as much practice as possible!

I guess that is all for now. Keep us in your prayers.

Margaret

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggidy Jig!

We are back from our third annual insanity church campout. I believe that it was the most successful one yet. It was wonderful to have so many volunteers and to not have to worry about every little detail!
Conrad organized a kickball tournament with modified rules so that even little people could participate. It was genius! Everyone had such a good time, especially the younger kids who participated with the older.
Many people have asked if we can do this twice a year.

Today, we have tons of laundry and housework to do. Conrad and Pastor Hemmeke are off to Presbytery and the following Pastor's conference. So, as the day progresses and I am better able to clear my foggy brain, I will get back on here with this week's plan.

Ya'll are going to help me stay focused!

Today we start to get ready for our church campout!
My To Do List:
Gather things to pack into a pile in the living room
Work really hard on the laundry (Conrad needs to pack to go away for a week on Sunday evening)
Cook a side dish and dessert to bring for Sunday's lunch
Make cookies for snacking over the weekend
Grocery Shopping for the campout and to take advantage of sales for the rehearsal dinner
Spend extra time in The Word (feeling dry lately and it is mostly because I've been neglectful in that area)
Spend lots of time in Thanksgiving and Praise

The rest of the week, I'm trying to put the wedding out of my mind (hard, even impossible to do, but I'm going to just jot down the thoughts and then move on).

It looks like it might be a bit rainy, but thankfully the temperatures will be warm. Who minds a little wet if it isn't too cold?
I'm looking forward to a relaxing, fun-filled weekend with hubby before he goes away for a whole week to Presbytery. Conrad has been working insane hours lately and then with all of the other duties he has it will be nice to have nothing to do but visit with dear church family and enjoy the outdoors.

Next week I will be jumping in to get the majority of the remaining work done for the wedding.

I will write again when the weekend is over.

Here's a link to a convicting article which I found over at Ladies Against Feminism.

Today I'm Thankful for: Frozen pizzas! And the chilly, breezy, sunshiny day. I'm also thankful that my friend Myra is coming in for the wedding from Holland! Woohoo!
Today I'm praying for: Gaelan and Emily and Emily's family who are all working hard on the wedding. For my cousin Marla who just lost her dad - my Uncle Billy, I'll miss him.
What's for Dinner? Grandmother Doskey's chicken and noodles and some of Granny Smith's ginger bread cake, it's the perfect day for it!

Here's a link to my Pastor's latest sermon in the series on Ecclesiastes, I am still thinking about it.

27 days and counting!

Today, I hope to get most of my To Do list done in the morning so that I can go to the Fall Folk Arts festival in Newport News Park this afternoon when Conrad gets home from work.

The weather here is beautiful! Cool and sunshiny. When it is chilly enough in the house that I need to put on a sweater, it makes me want to bake! I am looking forward to having a couple of young ladies over to my house in November to make streudels. I usually make them for Reformation Day, but won't this year!

I have a couple of items off of yesterday's to do list that still need doing:
Bake that cake!
Make Slaw for tomorrow's lunch
And the house can still use some more straightening.

Here is today's list.
Have Steven & Isaac bleach the front of the house
Yardwork (lots of sticks to pick up and more cutting back of the shrubbery)
Bedrooms cleaned
Make BBQ pork for Sunday's lunch
Clean my library
Catalog a couple of items for the church library
Make a grocery list for the remaining items for the wedding weekend.
Normal Sunday prep things such as find your clothes and makesure there's food ready.
GO TO THE FESTIVAL! Do you think I'll make it?

We are all looking forward to the church campout, it is one of my most favorite events of the year. I'm reserving all of next week for that, sort of taking a week off of wedding preperation.

Well, Gaelan should be home soon from work (8:30ish). It is hard (and exciting) to think that it won't be me keeping that vigil much longer. I'm going to go get some chicory coffee and make sure that my late risers are out of bed...no one wants to get up when the windows have been open all night and it's chilly! I'm going to listen to the messages that my pastor has already preached in this current sermon series while I'm baking and cleaning today. Here's a link!

God bless your Sunday preperations and worship!

Wedding Happenings

Greetings everyone!
I thought that I would use my blog during this busy month to help myself gather my thoughts and keep track of my growing “To Do” list.

Here is what the month looks like:

Next weekend (9-12) is the church camp-out. Our family is in charge of that, but many people have volunteered and all that we really have to do is coordinate the weekend and plan our own family’s camping meals & packing.

The following week is Presbytery, Conrad and our pastor will be in Texas for the entire week. I’m sorry that I will miss it this year, but even without the wedding coming, a whole week away is crazy!

Emily’s shower is on the 21st and the Crisis Pregnancy Center’s annual benefit banquet is on the 23rd. Conrad is the chairman of the board, and so has to be there, but I haven’t decided if I will. Our friend RC is going to be speaking, and going right back home again, so I would like to go, if I’m not too crazy by then.

The 31st is the rehearsal and post rehearsal dinner. This will be the first Reformation day that we haven’t celebrated in many years, it will feel weird. I think perhaps we should at least sing “A Mighty Fortress” at the end of the dinner. What do you think?

I’m cooking the meal. It looks like we are going to have close to a hundred guests. I’m only a little nervous about how the food will turn out and having the right quantities. I’m mostly excited. I’ll be doing what I love for people I love.

The first of November, All Saint’s Day is Gaelan & Emily’s wedding. It is going to be huge, we have more than 500 people invited and only a few “regrets” have been received. Emily’s folks have engaged an amazing band and we plan to contra-dance the afternoon away! I’m baking two large cakes, the wedding cake and the groom’s cake as well as other single tier cakes to serve all of those guests.

Things accomplished:
Wedding cake flavors and décor decided on.
Guest list for the rehearsal dinner finished.
Menu for the rehearsal dinner and contract for room rental taken care of.
Dress purchased (still have to find shoes and jewelry).
Desserts for rehearsal dinner made (I chose many dishes that make ahead and freeze beautifully since I will be concentrating on decorating a wedding cake.)
Out-of-town relatives notified of hotel arrangements and invited to rehearsal dinner.

Today’s To Do List:
·Make the Red Beans for the rehearsal dinner in the roaster and freeze.
·Decide on exact amounts for the main dishes and check for ingredients still needed.
·Work on seating assignments and continue to brain storm about a low-key activity for during the dinner to help family members get acquainted. Any ideas?
·Make slaw for Sunday’s dinner (this is so that I can spend some of Saturday at the folk arts festival in our town.)
·Downstairs straightened. This gets delegated for the most part to the kids.
·Some errands, Michael’s and Ulta and a friend’s house to pick up some vegetables that she is chopping for me.
·Bake what I hope is the last cake to decide on what recipe I’m using for the groom’s cake.
·Work on the gift I’m making for Emily for her shower.
·Supper Bubble & Squeak

Today, I’m thankful for: Our Heavenly Father’s care. I don’t know how anyone can marry off a kid, or send them off to start their life without being able to trust to God for their life. And for His care in my very breathing out & breathing in not to mention all of the unimportant details such as getting ready for a wedding.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:9

'For in him we live and move and have our being.' Acts 17:28a

Black Bottom Muffins

Black Bottom Muffins

for the delightful Amy Jo...

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cups sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
2/3 cup buttermilk
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup butter, melted & cooled
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips, chopped
(I use mini & skip the chopping)

Topping:
1 8oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
¼ cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/8 tsp. almond extract

1.Preheat oven to 375° F. Grease twelve muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda & salt.
3. In another bowl, stir together buttermilk, oil, butter, egg & vanilla until blended.
4. Make a well in the center of dry ingredients; add buttermilk mixture and stir JUST TO COMBINE. Stir in chips. DON’T OVER STIR BATTER!
5. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
6. In a medium bowl, stir together cream cheese, sugar, egg & almond extract until well blended. Spoon mixture over chocolate batter in muffin cups.
7. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into center of one muffin comes out clean.
8. Remove muffin tin or tins to wire rack. Cool 4 minutes before removing muffins from cups; finish cool on a rack.
9. Serve warm or cool completely and store in an airtight container in refrigerator. Let muffins reach room temperature before serving.
These muffins freeze well. Makes 12 muffins.