Saturday, October 11, 2008
A Photo-Shoot of Me!
I had Eric take some pictures of me… I haven’t posted pictures of me in a long time. So, here I am! haha. Enjoy! (Oh and I warn you - I am very pale!)
Me (I really like this one of me)

Up in Little Maple

Standing by the Little Maple’s trunk

Me on the Stone Steps (the Hen wanted to be in it too.)

The sun came out right as this was taken

A little crooked, but I like this one of me :D

I found a small bunch of Queen Ann’s Lace, and had to pick one! Last ones of the season

And last of all, me with Belladonna and her kid, Broken Arrow (Bell and Bow)

Well I hope you enjoyed seeing some pictures of me. I hope to be posting more pictures here soon. :)
Sincerely,
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts and happenings of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country. “You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!” Philippians 4:13
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Monday, October 6, 2008
Growing An Indoor Herb Garden

Click on the link above to read the article I wrote on Growing An Indoor Herb Garden for the Growing In Grace Magazine.
Becoming The Excellent Herbalist,
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts and happenings of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country. “You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!” Philippians 4:13
4 Response(s)
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Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Becoming The Excellent Baker - Apples & Apple Dip
We use this recipe a lot whenever Dad brings home some big juicy apples. It's great if you are going to have a cookout, or having a get-together, or if just want to enjoy a little sweet, but healthy treat with your family. It takes hardly anything to make, and it so good, you'll want to make it again!
The Dippin' Dip
3/4 cup of sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese
1/4 cup of chopped nuts (walnuts work best in this)
about a tablespoon of vanilla
Now, if you have let the cream cheese sit out, you can do this with your hand, but if not, you can put it in the electric mixer and do it. 
Put the cream cheese in a bowl, and start mashing it with the fork. Or if you are using a mixer, do it on low speed. Next pour the sugar in, one at a time, mixing it well before adding the next. Next you mix the vanilla in. That way it's a little bit softer. Now the last thing is to put the nuts in. Now mix all that up really good, making sure the sugars have not clumped anywhere. There's your apple dip.

I want to let you know something - if you are having a get-together and want this to be a part of the food, and you are making it ahead of time, do not cut the apples too. They will turn brown. It won't hurt if you do, but if you don't have to, make sure they are freshly cut.
Now, time to cut the apples. My favourite way to cut them is with a sharp knife. But if you do this, ask an adult to help you with this. If not, and you have an apple-corer on hand, use that. It will be quick to use it.
Once, you have done this, you are finished! Now, you can place the bowls of apples and apple dip on the table and set out some plates for people to come and get their own. Hope you enjoy this as much as we do. When we make, it doesn't last very long once you get the Littles started!
Becoming The Excellent Cook,
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts and happenings of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country. “You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!” Philippians 4:13
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Sunday, September 21, 2008
The Excellent Baker - Apple Crisp
I made some apple crisp on Wednesday morning for a treat. Little did I know how fast it was going to be gone. I myself don’t like it. I never have. But it’s very fun to make. Amanda informed me, with her hand on her stomach, that it was breakfast dish, not a desert dish to be *after* lunch. So I had to give in and let everyone have some while Amanda made some spaghetti noodles for lunch. I thought you might all want to try this recipe, so I will share it with you. :)
Apple Crisp
4 medium apples, cut into 1/4 inch slices
2/3 to 3/4 cup of flour (I used cake flour for this)
1/2 cup of oats (regular oatmeal is fine)
1/3 cup of butter
3/4 tsp. of cinnamon
3/4 tsp. nutmeg
Heat the oven to 375*. Arrange the apples in a greased 8×8x2inch baking pan. (I used a 13×9x2 inch baking pan. It worked fine.) Mix the remaining ingredients and then sprinkle it over the apples in the pan.
Bake this wonderful surprise for about 30 minutes, until it turns a golden brown on the top. Serve it warm, if you want, or you can wait until it is cooled. You can serve it with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.
I actually made double the topping because it’s never enough only making the recipe. Everyone loves this at our house… except me! :) But I don’t mind making it. I’m a bake-aholic. Trying to become The Excellent Baker. :D If anyone has a recipe for this, would you like to share, so I can try a few different ones and see which one works best? That would be wonderful!
Trying To Be The Excellent Baker,

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts and happenings of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country. “You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!” Philippians 4:13
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Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Too Hard?
I am really tired of people, Christians, always saying it id too hard to follow the Bible, and then go with the world. I really am. I am really tired of myself doing that. It got me to thinking about how hard it was for Jesus to be down on earth, living with sinful people, then having to suffer and die for them, so they could have Salvation. It got me to thinking how a lot of Christians want to take the easy way out and ‘go with the flow’ - the worldly flow.
Jesus could’ve taken the easy way out - He didn’t have to die on the cross. He could have said, “You know what, none of my disciples are even standing by Me, all these people hate Me and have rejected Me, so I don’t want to give MY body to save THEM from their own sin.” That would have been the easy way out for Jesus. He could have defide God. He was God. He could have struck all those people who wanted to kill Him dead on the spot, but no, He suffered and died so I could live - so YOU could live.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” He is saying that if you can’t bear what He bear for you, for His names’ sake, you aren’t worthy to follow Him. He says this numerous times. Luke 9:23
says “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” DAILY. Did you see that word? He said daily. What I am get from this Scripture is that everyday, all the time, think of what He would do, take up your cross and do it. If it is as simple as being nice to your sister or brother, or honouring your parents by cleaning their house. Whatever it is, do it as Jesus would.
What He is saying, to put it in plain words, is this - “If you aren’t willing to lay all you have down for My sake, your Saviour, Redeemer, and Lord, you are not worthy to be MY follower.” How can it be any plainer?
I guess what I am tired of is the Christian people who don’t follow God’s Ten Commandments, who don’t follow His lead, who don’t want to take the time to find out what the Bible really says instead of getting an interpretation (yes, it is an interpretation) from their pastors, and whose hearts aren’t right with God. Jocelyn once wrote an article, that came to mind as I am writing this, called It’s Not Always Light- N-Fluffy. I think you should read it for yourself. I really got ‘enlightened’ so to speak reading it. I think you might want to give it a try.
Lately, this subject has been on my mind. It seems like it’s always too hard to be nice to my younger siblings, it’s too hard to stay up for that extra hour so Momma can get something done on the computer, it’s too hard to clean the kitchen AGAIN. It’s too hard, I can’t, too hard… That ain’t nothin’ compared to what Jesus suffered. Jesus wasn’t always comfortable. I bet He wasn’t too comfortable when He was being whipped and nailed to the cross. That’s the problem with a lot of Christians today - EVERYTHING has to be comfortable. If it doesn’t feel right, they don’t do it. Sometimes you have to do things that are uncomfortable. Jesus had to all the time.
Jesus did say it wouldn’t be easy to follow Him, as many of His followers said. No, it would be very hard. But in Hebrews 12:2, it does say this, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” He is on the right hand of God, He endured the cross, for whose sake? YOURS and MINE. But if you aren’t willing to take up your cross, you aren’t worthy -
Matthew 10:38
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Luke 14:27
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
You leave your cross behind, you don’t count as following. When you go rock-climbing, you need cables right, to hold you up? Well, think of your cross as the cable that is holding you to God. If you leave your cable behind, how can you climb the steep rocky edge? You can’t; you won’t be able to. You need to make sure you are equipped for the Narrow Road you will be climbing up. If you aren’t, you just might fall off the edge.
The Jewish leaders mocked Jesus when He was on the cross, saying (Mark 15:30) “Save thyself, and come down from the cross.” (Matthew 27:42) “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.” They wanted a sign. They didn’t go to the Scriptures and saw the many prophecies Christ was fulfilling. It says in Matthew 16:4 - “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.” You are wicked if you ask for a sign to know that God is God. Jesus said in John 20:29 -
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
You want a sign, I’ll tell you where to find one - go outside and look at the sky, go smell a flower, touch the trunk of a tree, or look in the mirror. You have the signs and wonders of God all around you. All you need to do is open your eyes. You can’t have blind faith when following God.
The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 6:12 - “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.” That means it’s not always going to be easy, not always going to be comfortable. It *will* be difficult. Jesus said you will suffer as *I* have suffered. I am glad I can suffer like my Dear Saviour did. It’s not too hard. All I have to do is make an effort to do it. Because you know that saying, Where there’s a will, there’s a way? If you have the will to follow God, and want to be like Jesus and Walk In HIS Steps, then you can. I’d rather walk in the dark with my Jesus, then walk in the light alone.
Please do not think that I am being judgmental about Christians, I am simple stating what I believe. I wrote this post for you all to be encouraged, not to think I am being a snob. I am only trying to be an encouragement to you, my fellow Brothers and Sisters in Him. I do hope I am.
Walking This Narrow Road,

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts and happenings of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country. “You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!” Philippians 4:13
3 Response(s)
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Friday, September 12, 2008
Saturday Psalm & Praise - My Redeemer Lives, Oh Yes He Does!
I really love this song, for one thing it’s so true! I mean, this is basically the song that covers everything that is so wonderful about our dear Lord and Saviour.
My Redeemer Lives
Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
And who told the ocean you can only come this far?
And who showed the moon where to hide till evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?
Chorus:
Well I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
All of creation testifies
This life within me cries
I know my Redeemer lives
Yeah
The very same God
That spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I’m broken
They conquered death to bring me victory
Now I know, my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I know
My Redeemer
He lives
To take away my shame
And He lives
Forever I’ll proclaim
That the payment for my sins
Was the precious life He gave
And now He’s alive and
There’s an empty
Grave!
And I know
My Redeemer lives
He lives
I know
My Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I know my Redeemer
I know
My Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
The Bible referred to Christ in numerous places as the Redeemer -
Job 19:25
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Psalm 78:35And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
Proverbs 23:11(b)
For their redeemer is mighty;
Isaiah 43:14
Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
Isaiah 47:4
As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.
This verse I found while I was searching for verses about my Blessed Redeemer, kind of says it all -
Isaiah 44:24
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
HE made you in the womb, and HE is the Lord that makes EVERYTHING, HE stretched and made the Heavens, and HE spread the Earth abroad Himself. How great is our God!
Take a look at this verse -
Jeremiah 50:34
Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
My Redeemer is STRONG, and the Lord of Hosts is His name. He will plead your cause, all you have to do is let Him. :)
Sincerely,
I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts and happenings of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country. "You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13
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Monday, September 1, 2008
Growing In Grace Magazine September Issue is published!
Check out the September Issue of Growing In Grace Magazine! Look at the cool calendar that Mrs. B. made - BEAUTIFUL!

Stop by... I have my review column that I reviewed a lovely girls book... and also a few others. Make sure when you read them, you comment!
There is also a giveaway I would really like to win -

Check out the details by clicking on the icon. I have been learning to hand sew, but I have not yet tackled the sewing machine! Mom is pretty good at sewing, and Jocelyn and Amanda made quilts in 2005. I am still in the process of working on mine... hopefully I will be able to climb under the nice soft quilt. :) Here is the site that the giveaway is from -
Bunkhouse Sewing
Sincerely,
I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts and happenings of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country. "You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13
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Saturday, August 30, 2008
Homeschool Memoirs - Agendas
This week’s Homeschool Memoirs theme is Homeschool Agendas.
Bible-Ancient History-Jewish Culture Study
(ALL AGES) Reference: A Family Guide to the Biblical Holidays by Robin Sampson.
The Bible
We will be making lapbooks for these studies for at least the Littles and Middles.
Bible-Wisdom Unit Study
April~May~June (For children around the ages of 12 and up) Text Reference: Wisdom Unit Study by Heart of Wisdom
Bible-Modesty Study
April~May~June (Girls, ALL AGES) Resource: Knowledge Box Central Modesty Lapbook (for girls) K-8th Grade. I will be doing lapbooks.
Copywork
The Bible, A Beka Cursive Handwriting
History
Sept~ American and World History
Resources:
In the Hands of A Child Project Pack Cowboys!
Oct~Nov~Dec American Government and History
Resources:
Knowledge Box Central Presidential Election Process Lapbook (K-5th)
Notebook Learning The Election of A President
In the Hands of A Child Project Pack American Government, Grades 4 - Up
I will be using these with all the Littles and Middles. We will be making lapbooks, and fitting in the information from each resource as necessary.
Jan~Feb~March My State Notebook ~ Indiana
Resources:
A Beka My State Notebook
America’s 50 States by Learning with Weblinks
All of our children, ages 5 to 14 will be creating their own lapbooks. When they are finished with Indiana, they will be choosing another state or country.
Arithmetic ~ Mathematics
For Math, I am doing the A Beka Math.
Science
We will be using the Handbook to Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock as a supplement as we walk and draw and write and classify in our nature journals.
Much of the information we use we will be getting from Wikipedia and the following resources.

Reading
I am going to be reading and reviewing books for GGM. Plus all the other books I am going to read for school. I will, of course, be doing my Bible Reading Challenge also.
Spanish - All-year-round
Resources:A Beka Spanish Year one and Two
Lapbooking this one too! The curriculum has a lot of graphics I can use to make vocabulary lists and other booklets for a lapbook.
Writing and Grammar

I write a lot for articles for Growing In Grace. That is counted as my writing and grammar for school. I have assigned ‘history’ articles I have to do a little research on. Basically, I have to write a report about it.
I am also going to be doing a Cursive Writing book, because my handwriting is atrocious. And a Reading Engagement book. They are both from A Beka.
Well, since this is so late, I should get working on my next post for the Homeschool Memoirs!
Hope you all have a wonderful and blessed day.
Sincerely,

I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts and happenings of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country. "You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13
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Thursday, August 28, 2008
Happy Birthday Momma!
It Momma’s birthday today! She’s 40… growin’ old now. :) Everyday I thank God for my Momma. She is my comforter, adviser, teacher, but best of all, she’s *my Momma*. I love you so much, Momma, words can’t tell you just
how much you mean to me. I am so thankful that God gave me such a caring, loving, wonderful mother to teach me and train me to follow in His steps.
I know you love barns, especially ours, and this is one of of favourite pictures (minus the lawn mower). :) I took it one morning, before the sun came up. It had rained and it was beautiful, just like you!

Love you Momma, and I hope you have a wonderful day!
Love,
Lil’ Girlie
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Thursday, August 21, 2008
One Year, Three Chapters-A-Day Bible Reading Challenge at A City On A Hill

From my post - I have decided to do a one year Bible reading. I am posting about it because I want everyone to join me. I am planning on reading 3 chapters a day. There is a linky at the end of this post that you can sign if you want to join me. ***Click on the link above to go to post and sign up for the Challenge.***
Taking on the Challenge,
I hope you have enjoyed reading the thoughts and happenings of a fourteen-year-old girl from the country. "You can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens you!" Philippians 4:13
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