Morning Needs {Puritain Prayer}

Oh God, the Author of all good,
I come to you for the grace another day will require
     for its duties and events.
I step out into a wicked world,
I carry about with me an evil heart,
I know that without you I can do nothing,
             That everything with which I shall be concerned,
                 however harmless in itself,
             may prove an occasion of sin or folly,
                unless I am kept by thy power.
Hold me up and I shall be safe.
Preserve my understanding from subtilty of error,
             my affections from love of idols,
             my character from stain of vice,
             my profession from every form of evil.
May I engage in nothing in which I cannot implore your blessing,
                                  and in which I cannot invite your inspection.
Prosper me in all lawful undertakings,
       or prepare me for disappointments;
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with food convenient for me,
      lest I be full and deny you
      and say, Who is the Lord?
      or be poor, and steal, and take your name in vain.
May every creature be made good to me by prayer and your wiill;
Teach me how to use the wrold, and not abuse it,
                       to improve my talents,
                       to redeems my time,
                       to walk in wisdom toward those without,
                            and in kindness to those within,
                       to do good to all men,
                            and especially to my fellow Christians.
And to you be the glory.

-Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions


 

Homemade Gatorade (made with unrefined sweeteners)

Source: Plan to Eat

Yields 1 gal.

Serves  

Ingredients

• 2 cups orange juice
• 3/4 cup coconut sugar or other sweetener of choice
• 3/4 teaspoon fine-grained sea salt
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• enough water to make one gallon

Directions | 

Add coconut sugar and sea salt to a gallon-sized container. Heat up a couple of cups of water and add to sugar. Stir well to dissolve. Add orange juice and lemon juice and stir to combine. Top up the container with water to make one gallon. Serve chilled.
Add coconut sugar and sea salt to a gallon-sized container. Heat up a couple of cups of water and add to sugar. Stir well to dissolve. Add orange juice and lemon juice and stir to combine. Top up the container with water to make one gallon.
Serve chilled.

Homemade Brown Sugar

There is nothing quite like homemade brown sugar.  Not only is it frugal but so amazing!  Trust me. Try this. Two ingredients, ten minutes, perfect in a pinch, and the best part of all, besides feeling awesome all day (you just made. sugar.) is you get to control how light or dark the sugar is by how much molasses you add! Fancy!

Dumb {Ten2ndRule}

Encouragement for today:  The trial you are facing today will produce steadfastness if you endure.  Don't give up!  Try and focus through the fog of temper-tantrums, babies crying, teenagers, financial struggles, enemy attacks, physical struggles, spiritual struggles.  Keep hanging on and "count it all joy"....ladies.

 

Homemade Chicken Stock-Liquid Gold

Chicken Stock is one of the easiest, healthiest and most money saving things you can do in the kitchen...in my opinion...for whatever that is worth.  :)  The stuff you buy in the store doesn't come anywhere close to the nutrient density of broth made with actual bones, a vinegar soak and a long, slow cook.

Black Bean and Corn Quinoa Salad

Quinoa—pronounced keen-wah— is quickly moving beyond specialty health food stores and onto chain-supermarket shelves. Quinoa’s health benefits, palatability and versatility have increased demand for this protein-rich seed in the United States.

Quinoa is often considered a grain, but it is actually a seed from a species of goosefoot plant, which belongs to the same family as beets and spinach. It was first cultivated throughout the Andes in South America thousands of years ago.

Since quinoa is one of the few food sources that contain complete proteins, it's a great food for vegans and vegetarians or those who have wheat allergies (like me).  

Quinoa is high in protein, fiber, potassium, vitamin E, iron and magnesium, among other vitamins and minerals.  

Menu Planning

How do you plan your meals?  Menu planning has been a journey for me as a homemaker, sometimes it has felt utterly chaotic.   It has definitely evolved over the years as our family has grown and changed.  I thought I would pass along a great tool I have discovered for organizing and planning all those meals we mom's make to feed our hungry families!

10 Days Without Complaining

Gratitude Challenge: 10 Days Without Complaining

 

"A mother’s role in the home cannot be over-stated. Her attitude is like a thermostat that governs whether the home is warm and joyful or cold and negative.  All things rise and fall on the words, reactions, and attitudes that issue from her heart."-The Natural Cottage Mama

“I can’t believe how much I complain!  I do it without even thinking!” 

 

Consider the following quote by Hannah Whitall Smith:

Learn to live in God’s rest. In the calmness of spirit it will give, your soul will reflect, as in a mirror, the beauty of the Lord and the tumult of men’s lives will be calmed in your presence, as your tumults have been calmed in His presence.

The key to a peaceful home is to first have a peaceful heart.

Am I living in God’s rest on a continual basis?

Can my family members describe my spirit as “calm”? 

Does my life reflect the presence of God to the point that others (including my husband and children) are blessed simply by being in my company?

When I have to answer no to any of these questions, it is a good indication that I have disconnected myself from the Source of joy and peace- the presence of God.

 

Doorbell {Ten2ndRule}

Hey!  How are you doing today?  Hope you are doing well, keeping your eyes on the Lord and focused on eternity.

 I subscribe to eleven or so Youtube channels and one of my most recent ones, I thought I would start sharing here.  Very short {under 30 sec.}, all based on a Bible verse, sometimes humorous, sometimes not as humorous.

Today's hit's home...literally.  Is there anyone out there who hasn't done this? 

 

Crispy Mexican Chicken Wraps

This is a new favorite here in our house!  We have burritos a lot but this is a nice way to change it up. 

Crispy Mexican Chicken Wraps

Yield: Makes 6 wraps

Note: This is one of the most adaptable recipes  Feel free to up the cilantro, add in a different meat of your choice, eliminate the pepper, add green chilies – seriously, the options are endless.

One Day Only!

 A quick note today:  Lilla Rose One Day Sale for February's returning Flexi, April's Flexi and the new "Mother's Day" Flexi!

 

Stepping Down...or Slowing Down

This adventure called blogging, has been just that, an adventure.  It sprung from my desire to connect, when I was feeling disconnected and to perhaps make a difference for the Lord.  It has allowed for creativity and spiritual growth, new friendships and lots of fun.  I've met some lovely ladies and discovered a lot about my self . 

Over that past year and a half, life hasn't been the easiest here at our home.  Struggles have occurred in our family that have knocked the wind out of my blogging sails.  I wanted to let those who are regular readers know I am not shutting down, just slowing down.  I will be here to update and post now and then but if you don't hear from me as regularly as before you know why.  My family comes before blogging and right now I need to be with them.  I hope that those stopping by will be blessed and find practical and Biblical help and encouragement from past posts.  

Blessings to each and every one of you, the Lord is coming very soon I pray that you know Him as Lord and Savior! 

 

Resting at Home

Today I am sharing a wonderful reminder from Mrs. June Fuentes to all of us moms at A Wise Woman Build Her Home. Thank you!  I pray this will bless you. 

"If we are always rushing here and there and not protecting the precious time the Lord has given us, our homes and our children can be found wanting. Busyness for the sake of "doing" can even lead to emptiness and depression if we are not careful. We can squander time instead using it well."

View full article Here. 

 

Homemade Seed Containers

It is the 2nd of April and it is so pretty here, I think this is the prettiest time of year.  The grass is a bright, vivid green and the sky such a radiant blue with the puffy white clouds dotting the sky.  We thankfully, have been getting some more rain which we will need this summer!  I have just been soaking up God's beautiful creation, knowing that it will hot and dry very soon.  With all this spring weather, my thoughts have been on my garden.

This year I am starting my tomato and pepper plants from seed and have put together my own seed containers to save money.

Spring Break

Hope your week is going well.  We were gone for our "spring break", last week where we enjoyed a few days at the beach...never a bad day at the beach! We were also celebrating my sister-in-law's 40th birthday.