Praise For Homemakers

Homemakers, you really are valuable.  I told my husband on our anniversary that some people say, "My husband makes the money, and I spend it," but I don't like to spend our money, especially on frivolous things.  I want to use it to help our family and to live.  He said he would say to people, "I make the money, and she saves it."  That was a very honoring thing for Ethan to say to me.  I really do value homemaking and the role it has served our family over the years.  I honor my mother for all she did to make a home for us growing up, too.

A few weeks ago, I canned tomato sauce from our garden tomatoes.  That month's work also produced some yummy canned chokecherry jelly and grape jelly.  My Kerr Home Canning Book published in 1948 and sold for 10 cents came in handy! My grandma gave this book to me from her collection of cookbooks.  Ruth Kerr, president of the Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corporation wrote these words in her amazing introduction that I would submit for your contemplation today:

OURS IS A GREAT HERITAGE, YOURS AND MINE… For we stand first in line as our country's greatest single asset---the American Homemaker.  Again we gladly shoulder the responsibilities of our heritage, for this year we are being asked to be not only Homemakers, we are being asked to join the great forces of our Government in its program of world nutrition.  As American Homemakers we have been invited to represent America in this urgent world crisis, but our conference table will be in the kitchens of our homes, where each gleaming jar of canned fruit and vegetables is our contribution to our country's Blueprint for World Security.

I spent several hours today mending clothes that have piled up in a box over the past four months.  I hate throwing away perfectly good clothes when they just need a little needle and thread work to make them useful again.  My grandma and my mom taught me that by example.  A few years ago, a Swedish friend who worked with college students told me that one of the students wanted to throw away an expensive sweater because the button fell off.  She looked at the young lady, handed her a needle and thread, and told her to learn to sew on a button.  I hope that young people in this generation will learn the value of homemaking and of doing things for yourself for the sake of your family and your country.

Birthday Poems

I loved these poems my girls wrote me for my birthday:

By Amy, age 6
A mom is a mom
But you are the Best.
Happy B-day.

By Lizzy, age 8
Roses are red
Violets are blue
You are my mom
And I love you.

By Gretchen, age 13
Our mom is a woman of highest degree.
She makes us hot chocolate,
She makes us hot tea.
She washes our dishes and keeps our room clean,
We think she's awesome,
She's also quite keen.

From cooking our lunches and making our beds,
Sometimes she never bothers to rest.
Sweeping and scrubbing and sweating.
Oh Dear!
She gives us a bath till the water runs clear.

Mother's hard-working, and very smart,
She can even boast a degree in art!
Like a mother deer takes care of her kids,
She also likes to bring us on trips!

Oh what a handful we are, I admit,
We still love her when in corners we sit.
I hope that you have a day that's just gay,
For now, we send you our love and a happy birthday!

Have Thine Own Way

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in Thy presence humbly I bow.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me, I pray!
Power, all power, surely is Thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

by Adelaide Pollard, 1907

I sat down at the piano yesterday in our new home in Zimmerman, MN.  When I flipped open the hymn book, this is the song that came up.  What a comfort to me right now!  Ethan is stuck in London on his way to Ghana.  Stolen documents!  He has no passport, no Ghana visa, and no yellow fever documentation. These are all required to get to Ghana to teach.  My mind and heart have been swirling since he texted me with this news.  I guess there is a first for everything.  He has travelled to many places in the world and has never gotten documents stolen.  Feeling out of control and unable to change anything confirms my humanness and lifts my thoughts and heart to God who has all things in His hand.

Early this morning I spent time reading the Bible and praying.  As I looked out on our woodsy property, I saw the fog in the woods, much like the picture above.  I heard the birds, and the knock-knock-knock of a woodpecker that made me smile.  What comical creatures!  God's glory shines in His creation, and as I think about God providing for these birds, how much more does He care for His chosen people!  Jesus said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:31  Then, turning to Acts 16 for my daily Bible reading, the amazing story of Paul and Silas being directed by the Holy Spirit to Macedonia reminded me again of God's rule and good purposes in every one of these foggy days.

Pray for Us

It was one year ago that Ethan sat among several pastors in Northeast Romania, teaching through God's word and ministering to them. Friday, he will return to this beloved country again, instructing them in the Old Testament books of Ruth and Jonah, as well as teaching and leading them in preaching from the Old Testament.  For the last couple of years, these men have been attending classes taught by TLI instructors and growing in knowledge and discernment.  It will be a privilege to return once again.

Iasi is located in NE Romania near the border with Moldova

 PRAY FOR US

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the works of our hands for us. Ps.90:17

Sampler From Granny

The little girls enjoying what has been completed so far on Granny's Quilt.

Some of the treasures that I inherited from my grandmother after her recent death were fifteen unfinished quilt squares.  These squares were designed to be a part of a quilt sampler intended for Ethan and me.  She created them during a time when she was experiencing intense pain after receiving treatment for breast cancer.  I believe that as a result of her pain and all the medications, some of the squares were a bit skewed.

I tried to add borders to some so that they would all have the same dimensions.  Next I had to find a way to put them together.  My sister-in-law, Sharon, was here a couple of weeks ago, so she gave me some advice on that.  She is definitely a more experienced quilter than I am.  I am in the process of putting it all together right now. I added some borders and squares of my own at the top and bottom.  My favorite squares that Grandma made so far are the house square, the three-dimensional blocks, and the spools of thread.  The next step will be to buy batting, made a fabric back, and begin to quilt it.  It should be an interesting experience, and I hope will honor my grandma and all of her hard work.

Then on to the knitted sweater that Grandma started during the last year of her life here on earth!  That will be a challenge, too.  Any advice from knitters out there on how to complete it would be very appreciated!

To My Husband On Our Anniversary

I Love You Because…

The Igloo you built for our kids.

 

You love God and have made His interests first priority in your life.

You only have eyes for your wife.

You will wait to make a decision so that you may seek God’s best for us.

You are able to have a “cheerful heart [that] does good like medicine,” especially with the kids when they are grumpy.

You have a manly, godly energy that keeps you going.

You are SO good to your wife and children.

You have purposed to give to your wife and children your time and your ear.

You will set aside your own desires to play “hide and seek” with your children.

You are a great handy man.

You are a creative, excellent problem-solver, who will build something yourself if it will solve the problem in the best way.

You are frugal and have self-control.

You gave up a path that would feed your ego, your pocketbook, and your reputation in order to serve God’s interests. Hallelujah!

You sing hymns with your family.

You read the Bible to your wife and children.

You go for bike rides, hikes, and rural and urban adventures with your family.

You stand up for Truth even when it is in opposition to family, friends, and the world “If you abide in My word, You are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

You have used your gifts to minister to the Church, even in adversity.

You enjoy the beauty of the earth and help others to give glory to God through it.

You have persevered through some of the most difficult of circumstances, and overcome, and you will overcome “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Rev. 12:11

You INSPIRE me.

Your devoted wife,           

 Elysia

Faces of Growth and Change

Lizzy received earrings and got her ears pierced as a birthday gift from Grandma and Grandpa. She was so brave!

Peter John (5th), Lizzy (3rd), and Amy's (Kinder.) first day of school. Peter John started at a Christian school this year, while the two girls are homeschooling as well as School of Choice. As you can see, Peter John has grown quite a lot this year.

Gretchen is in seventh grade this year at a Christian school. She started in the middle of August. We are grateful we live close enough to bike or walk, if necessary.