This week...



Wow!  I can't believe that it's the last day of February already and that we won't see another 29th day of February for 4 years...

Well, we had a very sweet (but all too short, as usual) visit with our dear friends, the Nobles, earlier this week.  They came Sunday night and left Tuesday morning, early.  We miss them very much and were encouraged, as always, by their company.

Elijah and I went to work with Papa on Monday.  I cleaned aircraft interiors while Elijah worked on exteriors.  This was my second time out and I felt much more confident, though I am not quite to a level that I am completely satisfied with my work...yet!  :)

Today, after a significant snowfall (probably more than we've gotten all together this season!) the boys have started on a fort.  This one will be nothing like last year's giant, but it's a start! :)  

Here's some pictures that were snapped earlier today...and some from the Noble family's visit.

Thank you, Mama for capturing the action!

The guys had blow gun (PVC pipe) wars with Nerf darts...so fun!  They were even bold enough to "steal" pillows to make their forts!

Parting shot...:(

 I love my brothers!  :)

Here's the beginnings of the fort.

Jeremiah's 14th Birthday!

Dear Jeremiah,

Happy 14th birthday!

You are growing into a wonderful, strong, handsome young man and I am very grateful (and proud!) to have you as my brother.  You have such a servant's heart.  I love your sense of humor that brightens my life every day, and yet, I also love your solemnity whenever we are speaking of important things - things of the Lord.  It has been a joy and pleasure to see you grow and mature over the past year.  You always amaze me with your endurance during (h-a-r-d!) workouts and your ever-ready smile/grin.  I love the nicknames you have for me, I love doing math with you :), I love your laugh, I love you through and through.  May you have a super blessed 14th year and may you grow in your love for the Lord and His people.  Happy birthday, dear brother!

To God be the Glory,
With love and thankfulness for you,

Hannah

Happy Valentine's Day 2012

Hello everyone and Happy Valentine's Day!

This is a day set aside to show our love for others.  But showing our love and appreciation for a person should not be a one-day-of-the-year type of thing.  This should be something that we continually show every single day of the year.  The Lord showed His love - the greatest love - to us "in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He gives us grace, mercy and love each and every day.  In becoming more and more like our precious Saviour, we should strive to do the same for others.  Today, let us remember the ultimate love - the love of our Lord and Saviour.  What a blessed joy it is to be a Christian!!!!!

I love this quote by Christopher Love: (I know that I've shared it before, but I pray that it encourages you as it always does for me.)

"Here is grace beyond compare, that Christ brings life to you who brought death to Him!  That Christ gives glory to you who brought shame to Him!  Christ gives a heaven  to you who thought the earth too good for Him!  Christ pleads to His Father for you who contradicted Him, (Hebrews 12:3) " He suffered the contradiction of sinners."   Jesus Christ crowns you with a crown of glory to your honor who put a crown of thorns upon Christ's head to His disgrace.  O magnify this grace that shows you kindness for your unkindness, love for your hatred, good turns for the ill turns you have done Him.  You have great cause to magnify the greatness of this mercy.  The patience of a man would have been worn out long ere this with the many and deadly provocations which you have offered to Jesus Christ.  Had not His patience been infinite, it would  have worn out before this day.  O magnify Christ, that He should be the author of eternal life for such unworthy creatures as we are!"

He loves us that much - to put up with our sinning against Him and to send His one and only beloved Son for us.  That is love beyond compare!  Have a beautiful day resting in the knowledge the He loves His children.

To God be the Glory,

Hannah

Ephesians 3:17-19
"...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Romans 8:37-39

"Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

2 Corinthians 13:14

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."

Hello all!

If you want a good laugh, go on over to my brothers' blog.  Enjoy!  :)

Cleansing

Isaiah 1:18

 “Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Turkey Wild Rice Soup



A dear, sweet neighbor lady gave us some wild rice and turkey, so I made this delicious, creamy soup.

Ingredients:

1 1/3 C uncooked wild rice

4 C water

3/4 C butter

1/2 C finely chopped onion
1/2 C finely chopped celery (I didn't use any)
2/3 C flour
8 C turkey broth (I used chicken broth)
2/3 C shredded carrot
4 C chopped cooked turkey
1 tsp kosher salt or to taste
1 tsp ground black pepper or to taste
1/2 C chopped slivered almonds
1 tsp lemon juice
1 1/2 C half-and-half cream


Directions:


Bring the wild rice and water to a boil in a saucepan.  Reduce heat to medium-low.  Cover and simmer until the rice is tender but not mushy, 40-45 minutes.  Drain off any excess liquid, fluff the rice with a fork, and cook uncovered 5 minutes more.  Set the cooked rice aside.


Melt the butter in a soup pot over medium heat.  Cook and stir the onion and celery until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.  Stir in the flour and cook until it turns a pale yellowish-brown color, 3-5 minutes.  Gradually whisk in the turkey stock until no lumps of flour remain.  Stir in the carrot.  Bring the mixture to a simmer, and cook, whisking constantly, until the stock is thick and smooth and the carrot is tender, about 2 more minutes. 


Stir in the wild rice, turkey, salt, pepper, and almonds.  Return to a simmer and cook 2 more minutes to heat the ingredients.  Stir in the lemon juice and half-and-half.  Bring the soup almost to a boil, and serve hot.


ENJOY!