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Stephanie

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Blog Entries posted by Stephanie

  1. Stephanie
    God has entrusted each of us with much of value as well. And to whom much is given, much is required. (Luke 12:48)
     
    What has God placed in your hands, in your life, in your safe keeping and how will you Ergazomai ἐργάζομαι ?
     
    Remember the usage list for Ergazomai ἐργάζομαι
     
    1) to work, labour, do work
     
    2) to trade, to make gains by trading, "do business"
     
    3) to do, work out
     
    a) exercise, perform, commit
     
    b ) to cause to exist, produce
     
    4) to work for, earn by working, to acquire
     
    ************
     
    God has INVESTED in you and in turn expects you to INVEST wisely so that there is an INCREASE. This applies to every area of our lives. He calls us to accountability. He wants you to Ergazomai ἐργάζομαι .
     
    In summary I feel that the Lord has revealed to me that each step I take, each thought I think, each dollar I spend, each word I speak, each moment that I live...should be ON PURPOSE and with a PURPOSE. I am to labour, trade, commit, produce and acquire so that I can give Him a return from His investment in me.
     
    So, how does this apply to prepping? For me, I now believe that the Lord has directed me to be diverse in the way I invest my monies, times, energies, thoughts, talents. A wise investor is diversified. They don't put 'all of their eggs in one basket'. That way, if a basket is dropped, you haven't lost everything.
     
    I will invest in all the aspects of my life. My children and family. My physical, spiritual and mental well being. My homestead. My prepping skills, tools, stocks. My home and family protection. It's not all about anyone of these things. I can improve all areas by investing wisely and reaping the benefits of a productive life.
     
     
     
     
  2. Stephanie
    Ergazomai ἐργάζομαι Part II
     
    As I read the parable that Jesus told in Matthew 25 I was keenly interested in how each of them reacted and then the results of the actions that they individually took.
     
    Remember, I had been praying about what I should do next, what I should with what I had, what I should focus on.
     
    As I began to read the verses where Ergazomai ἐργάζομαι was used, I began to get a better understanding of what the word meant. Here are a few more of the verses. I will make the word bold that they translated from Ergazomai ἐργάζομαι.
     
    Mat 26:10 When Jesus understood [it], he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
     
    Jhn 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
     
    Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.
     
    Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
     
    Jam 2:9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. *note: other translations say committed sin instead of convicted.
     
    So, here we have five different translations of one Greek word Ergazomai ἐργάζομαι .
    Try reading our original Matthew 25:16 and substitute one of these five instead of traded.
     
    Immediately he went and '''wrought a good work"
    Immediately he went and "laboured"
    Immediately he went and "worketh"
    Immediately he went and "did good"
    Immediately he went and "committed (or acted with convicted)"
     
    Now we're starting to get a better grasp of what Ergazomai ἐργάζομαι means and as for me, I was really starting to understand what I was to do with whatever God has entrusted to me.
     
    To be continued....
     
  3. Stephanie
    I love Word Studies!
     
    And this word caught my attention. Ergazomai ἐργάζομαι It is a Greek word that is found in the Scriptures 39 times. These are all found in the New Testament of course since it is a Greek word.
     
    I came across this word as I was reading the parable of the Talents found in Matthew. I have been doing some contemplating in the last week or so about living a purposed life and making my moments count.
     
    In this parable, Jesus tells of three servants who were entrusted by their master with talents (gold,money,valuable assets, or abilities). Each of them reacted differently. The each were given a different amount, according to their ability. And then the master went away.
     
    Story of the Three Servants (Matthew 25)
     
    Seeing as I have been praying about how I could best put my time, resources, monies, talents to good use - I was interested to see what the three servants did and how it worked out for them.
     
    Now, two things I want to point out here. First, when translating from one language to another, sometimes there is not a literal word to be used, it may not exist in that second language. So, sometimes translators have to choose words or phrases to best convey the message of the original text.
     
    Secondly, because of this, you may find differences in translations. BUT, themessage should be unaltered. The Word of God is not like any other book, spiritual writings or historical accounts. It is unique, it is living, it is always applicable to our lives.
     
    Here is a usage list for Ergazomai ἐργάζομαι
     
    1) to work, labour, do work
     
    2) to trade, to make gains by trading, "do business"
     
    3) to do, work out
     
    a) exercise, perform, commit
     
    b ) to cause to exist, produce
     
    4) to work for, earn by working, to acquire
     
    *****
    Okay, I think that's enough for Part I, but believe me, I'll be back for more...I am captivated by this word.
     

  4. Stephanie
    I'm a busy mom, I get tired, overwhelmed and just outright pooped sometimes.
     
    In the past, on a day like that, I'd ask dh to stop by and pick up something convenient. After all, hungry kids, a frustrated mom, lack of time, a small crisis of some manner, and etc... were the recipe for disaster. And so I excused it. Now, while we still eat out (very occasionally), it is a planned event, not a matter of convenience.
     
    In my life, Convenience has been Redefined.
     
    It started rather simply. I needed a well stocked pantry. I needed to have things on hand. I needed to have an extra loaf of bread in the freezer or even a gallon of milk, I needed to have the basics available to me.
     
    Then, it went a step further. I had to increase my skills and be able to turn that flour into biscuits without a huge ordeal. I needed to be able to improvise, out of milk...no problem we have powdered. No bread, no problem, I can make a batch of flour tortillas fairly quickly.
     
    I also began to think ahead. No one wants to face seven hungry kids without some sort of plan. I began to experiment with foods that I wanted to incorporated into our menus. I learned to try to have a big pot of some kind of soup available at practically any given time. Vegetable soup, Lentil Soup, Split Pea Soup, Potato Soup, Cabbage Soup, I could go on.
     
    Then a huge step towards Redefining Convenience, I learned to home can. It was the meat canning that really changed my outlook. What a time saver! Going to make chicken enchiladas? Just open a can of cooked, seasoned, tender and flavorful chicken. You could eat it right out of the jar if you wanted to. Need a quick Spaghetti dinner, boil some noodles, open a can of your home canned ground beef, a jar of sauce...you're done!
     
    Finally (and I'm skipping over a lot) I arrived at this newest project of mine. Learning to use dehydrated foods. I'm now amazed at how convenient these foods can make your life. I ordered (some months ago) from Harmony House their Vegetable Pantry Stuffer http://www.harmonyhousefoods.com/Vegetable...t41_p_1845.html I also ordered some things from Honeyville grains (Powdered Buttermilk, Powdered Sour Cream, etc).
     
    The last week or so, I've finally begun to open up some of the sealed quarts and tried incorporating them. I took a day to cook only from preps. I am so TOTALLY won over. You can make a vegetable soup that is wonderful out of these dehydrated goods. I even tried the TVP beef bits in my soup which were wonderful in a soup form. I made a hominy casserole and added the powdered sour cream and the dehydrated assorted bellpeppers, wonderful. I made buttermilk biscuits with the powdered buttermilk, lovely!
     
    This is how Convenience has been Redefined in my life. Quicker than I can run through a drive thru, faster than a speeding pizza delivery, I can have a wonderful meal, without chopping, dicing, peeling, processing, etc...
     
    I haven't purchased a really nice dehydrator yet to do more of the dehydrating myself yet, but will one day. You do have to have a good source of water to rehydrate but that could be found in the liquid/broth/juice of your canned vegies. I can't imagine spending unplanned money on convenience food any more. Convenience (for me) has been Redefined!

  5. Stephanie

    Whittling

    By Stephanie,

    A little over a year ago I ordered the nicest whittling beginner's kit for one of my sons for their birthday. He thought he'd like to give it a try, I thought it could develop into a neat hobby for him. He tried it, He didn't like it. It was too painstakingly detailed for his happy-hyper self and so, I gave him the money I had spent to go on something he liked and inherited the tools, books, blanks and etc... for myself.
     
    From the beginning, I was captivated. Taking a piece of wood and making something out of it? I spent hours and hours on my first project, a detailed cowboy boot. I took it to Georgia to show everyone when we had the get together at Darlene's. I took it to Arkansas when we visited my family. Westie said, Stephanie, I think you've found your niche'. My mom said, I'm not one bit surprised (naturally my mom would say that). But, I was surprised and secretly delighted that it seemed I might have discovered a hidden and unexplored talent.
     
    Alas, as with so many of my projects, I found myself distracted and doing other things. As we have seen a few warm days here and there in the deep south, I pulled out my whittling bag over the weekend and sat myself on the swing by the catfish pond. I decided to start a new project with one of the whittling blanks, a dog. At some point the younger children meandered over to observe me and ask about what I was doing. I proudly pulled out my ONE finished project, that little 4 inch Cowboy Boot. They admired it and went about their play.
     
    A good hour had passed and I had made a little progress on the dog, just a little as whittling is a series of tiny cuts and grooves and slivers of wood. I decided to put my things away, feeling refreshed and focused. I thought I'd try to walk around the pond until my legs ached with exertion. As I carefully gathered my glove and thumb protector and gingerly closed the extremely sharp knife... I saw it, at my feet. There laid my Cowboy Boot that I had so proudly shared. Evidently my pet Border Collie had discovered it and decided the nice soft wood would make for a good chew. It was ruined. I couldn't help myself, I just cried.
     
    Silly girl, I tried to tell myself, it's nothing to cry about. But, still I did. I looked at the disfigured creation and announced, "It is ruined." I stuffed it in the bag and took off for my walk at a brisk pace, wiping my tears as I did. I couldn't even bring myself to tell my husband or children. I felt so angry, so frustrated, so much more than I thought I should feel over such a little thing.
     
    As I walked I remembered the passage of Scripture that talks about the Potter and the clay. Do you remember? It says that the vessel (that the Potter was forming on the wheel) was marred in his hand as he made it. Unlike me, the potter did not cast it aside as ruined. Instead he did an amazing thing...he made it again, another...that's how the KJV reads. He made it again, another.
     
    With legs that were aching but a heart that wasn't, I retrieved that little boot from my bag and looked at it closely. Could it be made into something again, another? I felt a bit deflated as I realized I didn't posess the skills to figure it out. God, on the other hand can figure out what is required to remake our broken and damaged lives. He will use our imperfections to bless others. He will take us in His hands and make us again, another.
     
    I'm saving that boot, and Iam practicing on my whittling. One day, I'm going to take that piece of damaged wood and make something out of it. It won't be today, but one day I will do it. In the mean time as I work on the newest piece and learn to follow the wood grains and to take little tiny chips, slivers and grooves, I am growing more skilled.
     
    Perhaps there is a relationship, a situation in your life that has been chewed up until it is barely recognizable and doesn't even resemble what it started out to be. Could it be you even that you don't recognize in the mirror anymore? Allow the Lord to begin His creative work, He is a Master Craftsman. Some of the chiseling may hurt a bit, some of the grooves may be down right painful. But in the end, in the hands of the Master, you can become a thing of beauty that is cherished by your Creator.
  6. Stephanie
    My husband and five sons are involved in a program that is similar to Boy Scouts that is called Royal Rangers. They have an extension group called FCF (Frontiersmen Camping Fellowship). If there is such a group in your area, I highly recommend it. This coming weekend my dh and two oldest sons will be attending the first part of their orientation into this program.
     
    http://royalrangers.ag.org/fcf/index.cfm
     
    I am busy collecting the required items that they must bring. I thought you might be interested in a portion of the list.
     

    New Testament Pencil Sharp Pocket Knife Matches Poncho Can w/lid for charring cloth Flint & Steel Notebook Candle Sleeping Bag 100% cotton patches Ground Cloth Warm clothes including camo pants and hiking boots Canteen Mess kit including utensils, cup, pan, bowl. 
    Later, if they make it through the initiation which for one thing requires no talking for 24 hours they will begin to gather "Period Correct" clothing, equipment, weapons, tools, etc... They will be learning how to make do with what a Frontiersman would have had. I am so excited that they are learning these skills and feel they will be better prepared to face whatever life throws at them.
  7. Stephanie

    Pay Dirt!

    By Stephanie,

    We knew that this year we were going to have to buy some dirt. I don't mean the bags of dirt which we've bought so much ofin the last three years, but dirt by the pickup truck loads. This Alabama Red Clay has been an aggravation each year as we've attempted to garden with it. This morning dh went to a gravel/soil business that opened up recently to get the prices and see what was available.
     
    The man who owns it says, "You came at the right time, you see that dirt over there, it's in my way and I'll give you as much as you want for free." He explained just how to use this free dirt to achieve the perfect mix. So, my dh and two oldest bags have just finished unloading their second load of dirt, it was still a bit wet and heavy. Their backs are aching but their faces are smiling. After all, they hit 'pay dirt'.
     
    It is always such an encouragement when you're really trying and doing your best, to catch a break. Countless times this type of thing happens to us. Being at the right place at the right time. I don't believe in coincidences, as I know full well that I have a Divine Orchestrator in my life. Thinking upon the many instances where we have experienced the blessings of God, both large and small, I am reminded of this passage in Deuteronomy 28.
     
    Blessings for Obedience
     
    "If you fully obey the Lord your God by keeping all the commands I am giving you today, the Lord your God will exalt you above all the nations of the world.
     
    You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God:
     
    You will be blessed in your towns and in the country.
     
    You will be blessed with many children and productive fields.
     
    You will be blessed with fertile herds and flocks.
     
    You will be blessed with baskets overflowing with fruit, and with kneading bowls filled with bread.
     
    You will be blessed wherever you go, both in coming and in going."
     

  8. Stephanie

    Chili Cook Off ?

    By Stephanie,

    What have I gotten myself into? My boys talked me into entering a Chili Cook Off at our Church.
     
    I've never been in any kind of cooking contest, I'm just a momma cooking for a bunch of kiddos. Anyway, the same man has won for the four years that they've done this. This is our first year at the church so we're newcomers.
     
    I guess I must be more competitive than I realized because I kept thinking about what I could do to 'stand out'.
     
    And then I came up with a really cool idea! I'm going to make my White Chili!! I may not win, but it will be noticed.
     
    So Saturday I'll be stewing chicken breasts and cooking up some Navy beans, gathering the green chiles and sourcream.
     
    I'll be sure to let y'all know how it goes, but I'm still wondering what I got myself into!
  9. Stephanie

    CZ 75 B (Czech it out!)

    By Stephanie,

    I am the proud owner of a CZ 75 B 9mm LUGAR. Can you believe it? I can hardly believe it myself!
     
    There are some of you saying Wow! and Kewl!
    There are some of you saying Huh? and What?
     
    As for me, I'm saying
     
    If you'd like to know what in the world I'm so excited about, Czech it out!!
     
    http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=29
     
    So, why in the world would I want such a thing, some of you may be asking?
    So, why in the world would you wait so long to get one others are asking?
     
    As for me, I'm saying
     
    MrsSurvival has a way of changing a person. You come in here looking for a canning recipe or how to store your dried beans and before you know it...you're investigating the best laying hens and trying to figure out the best goat milking methods...later still, you find yourself counting down the days until the weekend when you can strap on your new pistol and do a little target shooting.
     
    I'm just saying.
  10. Stephanie

    My Grandma DeMoss

    By Stephanie,

    Today my Precious Grandma DeMoss is celebrating her 89th birthday!! I so wish that I was there to hold her in my arms and look her in the eyes and try to convey what words could never say...how much she means to me, how much I love her, how much I appreciate her.
     
    Grandma is an amazing person and a Godly woman. The influence that she has had on my life and the lives of so many others is without measure. She was the oldest girl of a very large family and was a Daddy's girl and a devoted daughter to a frail mother who suffered from epiletic seizures in a day when not much could be done.
     
    She was a teenage girl when the first terrible moment of her life occurred. She had stayed home from school to see about her mother who was pregnant and doing poorly while her siblings of school age went to school that fateful day in 1937. It was the day of the historic New London School Explosion. She still cries softly as she recalls the way her daddy wept as they dug through the rubble looking for the bodies of her brother and two sisters.
     
    She was a young married woman when she faced her next tragedy. Expecting her first child she was horrified when she realized the baby had stopped moving. There was nothing to do but wait and when the baby was delivered, beautiful an precious as she was, she was still born. He heart was broken. She named the baby, which was not the norm during that time and buried her in a small casket in a country church cemetary.
     
    She watched her husband go off to WWII and lived through the depression, raising her children up in the nurture and admontion of the Lord whom she loved so dearly. My own mother was born 6 months after my grandpa went to serve. The Red Cross delivered a telegram to him saying "You have a baby girl". He was in fox hole in Germany reading a French novel that an Army buddy had shared. He wired back "Name her Genevieve" (after the heroine in the story). And so grandma did to the protest of many family members.
     
    Many years later, having raised her children and enjoying the benefits of an empty nest that included fishing and hunting with grandpa, she faced the unthinkable. Her oldest son had been murdered, shot and killed. His Christmas present was under her bed, never to be given.
     
    A decade later she nursed my grandpa as his body was devastated by a terrible cancer. She mourned the loss of her best friend, lover and soul mate. She would never marry again, there could be no other.
     
    A decade passed again before she sat at the funeral of her youngest daughter, only 43 whose life had been shortened by a terrible cancer. Her mother's eyes still seep at the thought of the children that she has lost. She still misses grandpa and always will. She has stood faithful through all of this and more. She is amazing.
     
    She has 18 grandchildren, 45 great grands and many great greats as the family continues to grow and flourish. She is something special and I wanted to say so. She has planted seeds of love and has a giving spirit even now. She could shoot a squirrel in the eye and cook him up with rice and gravy for dinner. She has the most beautiful gray hair, her honor and glory. She was a fisherwoman that could catch anything anywhere and loved it. She refuses to wear 'men's clothes' even though her legs might get a little chilly in the winter. She knew how to go to a ditch and catch crawdads and take them home to fry them up for us a tasty lunch. She always stood up for those whom she loved and would defend you when you might not deserve defending.
     
    She is my GRANDMA DeMOSS and I hope this is a HAPPY BIRTHDAY for her. And although she has grown old, her eyes are dimming and she seems to remember days gone by better than the present at times. She is a grand lady and I am so proud to have her in my life!! I love you Grandma!!!

  11. Stephanie

    Happy Valentine's Day!

    By Stephanie,

    Happy Valentines Day!
     
    Let me tell you about my night last night. The women at our church held a Banquet, for women only, called HeartSong. Having only joined the church last summer I had never attended it before. Being a bit of a hermitress these days, I can honestly say I wasn't really interested. But, my husband insisted, and really insisted, which is not his normal manner.
     
    The purpose of the banquet was two fold. First, all of the men of the church were the servers. The other was so that this Special Holiday of Love would not find a beautiful lady at home alone just because she was single.
     
    There were about 20 large round banquet tables and each table had an assigned hostess. That hostess was responsible for decorating in a theme of her choice. I had asked to be placed at the Rose Table which was to be hosted by my youngest son's church teacher. I still feel relatively new as I mostly am wrapped up in my children and don't spend much time socializing.
     
    As I began to dress my children began to oooh and ahhh, touching my lacy dress, smelling the cologne, bragging on my heart shape pendant that hung from a chain around my neck. Now, I know that they are partial, but soon I began to just feel so pretty and before I knew it I had grabbed a pair of earrings that used to be my favorites. The problem was, I hadn't worn them in so long (read years!) I had to do what many of us has done at such times...just push it on through. My children watched in amazement, they girls held each other tight and squealed, the boys cheered me on yelling out, "Man, that's GOTTA hurt!"
     
    Finally, I was as fancy as I could make myself and left for the banquet. When I arrived, I was amazed! Each and every table was uniquely decorated, like little islands unto themselves with eight women seated. And each of these women were as unique and beautiful as the tables before them. I was escorted by the Maitre' De (my pastor) to what I considered the most gorgeous table of all, The Rose Table.
     
    Everything was perfection! The center piece was an array of Roses of course, the real bone china was patterned the same. There was REAL silver ware and lovely crystal. A gift from the hostess waited to be claimed in my assigned seat. I knes it was mine because of the lovely Place Card there. I was warmly greeted. I met ladies that I had not known before. They asked me about my life, I learned a bit about theirs.
     
    I felt like a queen, and then after a lovely program and music and hugs, it was time to go home. My feet were a bit achy, been a while sinc I've worn heels. My ears were feeling a wee bit tender due to my determination to Push Through earlier. I thought it was the loveliest evening I had spent in a long while, but I didn't know the best was yet to come.
     
    While I was at the Banquet my dh and children had a project of their own. First, they straightened up the whole house. Not the usualy messiness I find when I return from an outing. When I opened the door I saw the shining faces of all seven children shouting "Happy Valentine's Day Mom!" They then began to extend their hands and hold out Homemade Valentine Cards. My dear husband had not only kept the children so I could go, but had collected construction paper and crayons and gave them opportunity to create something beautiful.
     
    Just like those tables at the banquet, just like the women at the tables, I saw each card as a unique expression of who my individual children. They are wonderful! The cards will warm my heart for many years to come! My husband put me ahead of himself and while he could not come to the church and server at the Banquet, was at home serving me all the same.
     
    Not one penny of money was spent and it was the best Valentine's Day of my life. I pray today that you will feel loved and that you will take the time to express the love you feel!

  12. Stephanie

    Signature Story

    By Stephanie,

    I have a new signature and I wanted to tell you about it. It was a difficult decision for me as I went about looking for the picture that would represent me and who I am.
     
    I am a homesteader-in-training and love my goats and chickens. I homeschool my children and have adopted them all. I love to read and write stories. I could go on and on, just like you could when you try to summarize yourself. But finally, I decided that one particulary scripture was the best representation of me and my life and who I am and what I do.
     
    "He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children,praise the Lord! Psalm 113:9
     
    I'll never forget the morning that I read that scripture sitting on the front porch of a rental house more than 14 years ago. It did not bring me comfort or encouragement, it stabbed my heart and made me cry. All my life I had loved the Word of God and even as a teen was so drawn to its wisdom and truth. But that day I grew angry and declared that this was one time that the Word was wrong.
     
    You see, I had been trying for over a decade to become a mommy. Unless you have ridden that particular rollercoaster of turmoil, you won't know exactly how I was feeling. On the other hand if you have ever prayed for a long, long time and waited and waited, well you might can understand quite well.
     
    I could not imagine, I could not see, I could not understand or even figure out how this verse could be true. After a while of tears, I stopped and made a decision to believe, it was a crisis of Faith and I took my stand. After all the Scriptures also say in Hebrews 11:1 that "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. " (NLT)
     
    Now, all these years later, I am EXACTLY what that scripture said I would be. Not only did He give me a home, but he filled my empty arms. So now, when I speak of the Word of God, I can say with every confidence,
     
    "God's Word and What He Says
    Is MORE real...
    Than what I see,
    What I hear,
    Or what I feel."

  13. Stephanie
    I think I'll tell you a bit about me. I think I've been assuming that everyone already knows, but maybe you don't.
     
    I live in Alabama with my dh Henry and our seven children whom we have been blessed to make our own through the miracle of adoption. We have been married 26 years! I assure you he is the only man on earth who could live with me that long, he is amazing and the love of my life.
     
    Our children, and how they came to us, are miracles indeed. Just briefly, the are
     
    ds1 - 14 (joined our family at age 8)
    ds2 - 13 (our first adoption and came as a 2 week old premie 5lb infant
    ds3 - 9 (was 2 mos old when he arrived)
    dd1 - 9 (birth sister to our other daughter, came at age7)
    dd2 - 8 (came at age 6)
    ds4 - 5 (straight from the hospital at 2 days)
    ds5 - 4 (birth brother to the girls and was 3 yrs old when he came)
     
    I was born in Louisiana, lived in Texas and Mississippi during my growing up years and then married and was imported to Alabama 25 years ago. Alabama has been good to us, my dh and dc were all born here, but I have a secret yearning to return to Texas. shhh ... don't tell anyone. All of my family lives in Arkansas and the sensible thing to do would be to move there, but dreams aren't always sensible.
     
    Three years ago we bought an older house on 5 acres of land and have been going about making it into a homestead.We have a pond, a creek, goats, chickens, dogs and a parrot. In a few weeks Aslan, our Anatolian puppy will be joining the family.
     
    If you know me at all, you know that I love the Lord. I'm doing my best to live a life that is pleasing and acceptable to Him. I love the Word of God and use it as the Plumb Line, as a standard for all things Spiritual.
     
    MrsSurvival is a wonderful resource for me. I have made 'real' friends in a way I would never have thought possible on an internet setting. I have conquered my fear of pressure canning! I bought a Nubian milk goat and she delivered her baby right here on our little homestead. I'm enjoying my chickens immensely, they are wonderful homestead animals.
     
    I home educate my children in a very Eclectic manner. That basically means I'll use any method or manner I can to help my children learn how to learn. That's my goal, I know I can never teach them everything, but if I have taught them how to teach themselves, to read, to investigate, to learn...I have done a good thing.
     
    We're hoping to have a big garden this year and better success with it as we try some new techniques. This is an area I'm still trying to learn and grow in. With a famly our size, we need to be gardening!
     
    Well, just thought I'd tell you a bit about me!

     
     
  14. Stephanie

    Popcorn *PoP*PoP*PoP*

    By Stephanie,

    Did you know that Popcorn is a Whole Grain and has lot of nutritional and healthy benefits?
     
    I've always been a fan of Popcorn in its many varied forms. Whether it was dripping in butter at the Theater or in a box of Cracker Jacks at the ball game...formed into a PopCorn Ball at Halloween or caramelized with brown sugar... yum yum yum!
     
    I have loved it when I wasn't counting calories and I have loved it when I was. On its own, it's nothing but good... our adding toppings are sometimes tasty tantalizing culpits of extra sugar and fat and well, you know.
     
    I can remember when microwave popcorn was all the rage!! What an amazing thing it was !! I can't imagine how many bags I must have bought and eaten since that time, countless.
     
    Now, as the mom of seven snackers, I am even more fond of this tasty, frugal, healthful food. When you consider nutrition and costs, Popcorn wins hands down over Chips and such.
     
    Finally, I decided I was going to give up the Microwavable Bags, big decision, but we were spending too much on that convenience. So, I started buying 1 lb bags and standing at the stove, shake, shake, shake... for the shortest of times it was a novelty, my kids were amazed. Funny, but they had never seen popcorn popped the old fashion way.
     
    Last month I put on my prepping hat and bought a 50 lb bag of popcorn at Sam's , talk about a huge savings, it was huge. And talk about a lot of popcorn, it was a lot. But, after a while, I grew weary of standing there at the stove, shake, shake, shake and if you left your post...well, we all know what burnt popcorn smells like.
     
    So, I went on a quest! And I have found the answer to our Popcorn Dilemna. Have you heard of a whirly pop? Here's what it looks like, they sell them all over the internet and we actually found one at our local Target store.
     

     
    http://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-...8568&sr=8-1
     
     
     
  15. Stephanie

    C.S. Lewis

    By Stephanie,

    C.S.Lewis is one of my favorite authors. He died the same year I was born, the same day that Pres. Kennedy was assassinated. He was a brilliant man who continues to impact the world through his writings. He penned such works as the Chronicles of Narnia which have recently gone to the Big Screen. His words have impacted me greatly over the years of my life so I thought I would share some of his more famous quotes with you this morning. Enjoy! And tell me which one you liked the best!
     
     

    Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.
     
    There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way."
     
    A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading.
     
    Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.
     
    Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, "What! You too? I thought I was the only one!"
     
    God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
     
    I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.
     
    If we really think that home is elsewhere and that this life is a "wandering to find home," why should we not look forward to the arrival?
     
    Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.
     
    The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.
     
    Thirty was so strange for me. I've really had to come to terms with the fact that I am now a walking and talking adult.
     
    You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.
     
     
    C.S. Lewis Quotes
     
     
     

  16. Stephanie

    Blogging Brilliantly

    By Stephanie,

    I'm enjoying the Personal Blogs option of our new home. I've been doing some investigating, can't resist those shiny new buttons.. and thought I'd share a few tips with my Blogging Buddies.
     
    At the top of the page you will see two 'buttons' concerning 'blogs'. One says 'my blog' and takes you to your own created blog where you can make an entry to your own blog, create your own blog and set blog controls.
     
    The other button simply says 'blogs' and it will take you to a page where you will see a list of recent blog entries from others.
     
    On that page you will likely see at the very top a featured blog for the day. Below that you will see many others. If you will notice in the far right hand corner of each mini blog blurb you will see a heart. If you click on that heart you will be making that a 'favorite' blog and your favorites will show up right under the Featured Blog each time you visit that page.
     
    When you click on a blog that you are interested in reading, you can leave a comment. Unless, the blogger has chosen the option of 'no comments' in their personal blogging options.
     
    About personal blogging options... did you know that you can make your blog private so that no one can read your posts? Did you know that you can then invite people to read those private posts by creating a Private Club? Interesting way to share something very personal that you don't want all the membership to read about.
     
    You also can customize the way that your blog looks in your blog controls, for instance choosing a 'skin' (background).
     
    The last thing I want to mention is concerning personal responsibility. If you don't care for the subject matter of a personal blog, don't read it. When you are posting or commenting, be considerate of others. If you think that someone needs to moderate a blog, let Darlene know. My favorite blogs are the ones who are sharing personal experiences, projects, funny moments and basically a window into the lives of people I consider my friends.
     
    If you need any help, ask! We're all learning together with the new possibilities before us.
     
  17. Stephanie

    A Wee Bit Weary...

    By Stephanie,

    This morning I feel a wee bit weary, it's been 'coming on' for several days. That feeling of drudgery for things that normally make me smile. It blossomed into full fruition this morning when I needed to make biscuits. I just didn't want to do it.
     
    I thought wistfully of the days when every weekend I opened a bag of those lovely little frozen biscuits and set them effortlessly on the cookie sheet. Then, I regretted the fact that I had thawed out a turkey to bake today. My idea of canning some of it doesn't even appeal to me in the least at the moment.
     
    Do you ever feel tempted to 'fall off the wagon' ? I do. Sometimes I just get tired.
     
    I know this is the best way to live, I know that we are saving money, avoiding preservatives, making wise decisions. But, last night, as I rolled out 3 dozen flour tortillas, I found myself thinking I'd have gladly paid 5 or 6 dollars for a few packs from the store.
     
    I'm sharing this for those of you who may get discouraged and think no one else ever somtimes remembers more 'convenient' times. So today, my sweet dh put the turkey in the oven after he scrambled some eggs for breakfast. I blew my nose and washed my face and will get the cornbread started.
     
    As preppers, we have not chosen the easiest or most convenient path. And now and then, we may wander off picking daisies. Perhaps once in a while we just need to give ourselves a break. But, in the end, we pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and continue toward the destination we have set our sights on.
     
    Happy journey friends!
     
  18. Stephanie

    Routine Requirements

    By Stephanie,

    I seriously need to develop some routines into my life. I tend to resist the constraints of routine. I like to live in a free and flexible manner. But, although it is appealing, it is not necessarily wise or healthy.
     
    No matter that I don't have to set an alarm clock, catch the school bus, clock in at an office or have dinner promptly at six...there should still be some Routine Requirments in my life. I have the greatest of intentions. But, I don't always follow through. ::
     
    Our sweet little Nanny Goat is helping me to realize the importance of routines. If I want her to produce well, I must be regular with her milking routine. No haphazard, catch you tomorrow or today we milk in morning, tomorrow in the evening.
     
    I've noticed if I don't do my morning Bible Study and devotion...it often gets overlooked as the day's busy-ness increases. That should be a Routine Requirement. The same with exercise, if I'm waiting for that to 'just' happen, well it usually doesn't.
     
    I'm going to be doing some thinking about the Routine Requirments in my life. What are they? What are the priorities of my days? How can I fine tune them and be responsible and accountable without losing the joy of spontaneity that I so enjoy!
     
    Have a great day friends!
  19. Stephanie

    Aslan Hïdaverdi

    By Stephanie,

    For those of you who don't really believe that God likes to get all involved in the tiniest details of our lives, you may not want to bother to read on. But, for those of us who understand that God is a marvelous Orchestrator of the lives of those that allow Him to be...I think you'll be nodding your heads in agreement.
     
    I don't believe in coincindences, flat out, I just do not. If you do, well, naturally you must be mistaken.
     
    I do believe in Divine Intervention, Divine Purpose, and Divine Appointments. I have experienced too many of these for anyone to convince me other wise.
     
    IF I had not come upon MrsSurvival some years ago and IF I had not been brave enough to go to the Georgia Gathering and IF I had not gotten to know Westbrook and Darlene personally and IF I had not seen and touched Dani and Kayra and marveled at their calm and controlled presence, I would not likely never considered adopting one more time...this time Aslan Hïdaverdi.
     
    The name is Turkish and it means Lion-hearted Gift of God. We chose it because of our favorite character in the Narnia movies. I have no doubt that our Aslan will indeed be lion-hearted. But, what about this gift of God? Well, this is where serving the Lord is so sweet!! Let me explain.
     
    Anyone who knows me in the least knows that my passion is my Lord and my family which is made up of seven precious children that Henry and I have adopted. I take very seriously that the Lord has given me these particular children through a series of Divine Interventions.
     
    A few months ago, about the time of the Georgia Gathering, we were notified that a Convicted Sex Offender would be moving into our area. I was appalled! But, knowing we are so far back in the woods with no close neighbors, I didn't feel it touched us too closely. Upon further investigation we discovered that he lives on land that actually connects to ours! My mother's heart has been filled with anxious thoughts. I began to learn a bit about the fire arms we own in the house. I gave my children countless lectures. I changed our habits when outside avoiding certain areas. I felt a bit betrayed.
     
    Now, Aslan is on the way. Of course he's just one day old! But I truly believe that he is a Gift from God. He will become such an important part of our family. And even when I didn't know I would have need of such an animal, God did and had already set the wheels in motion to provide him.
     
    So, thank you Westie and Darlene for the part you have played. But, mostly thank you Lord for Aslan Hïdaverdi !
     

     
  20. Stephanie
    Well, my first morning to wake up with my coffee and come to this new MrsSurvival with so many wonderful possibilities! Of course I've got to figure them out a bit, but that's part of the adventure! Plus, don't you think it's kind of neat that we're all learning together! This is an historic moment for MrsSurvival and we are a part of it! How cool is that?
     
    I am discovering a little at a time some of the many perks that this upgrade has afforded us. We are in high style to put it straight. I think that as we get a handle on the new gadgets we'll be sitting pretty! Well, I'm off to investigate a bit more and see if I can't get some pictures to post or something!
  21. Stephanie
    Welcome my friends to my little corner of our new home on the internet. I can't wait to get to know our new place! It just looks so sophisticated and classy! Thanks to everyone who worked to make it possible.
     
    I'll be adding more later, but just wanted to greet you and give you a warm welcome! Drop by often!
     
    Stephanie
     
     
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