Something to think about

What We May & What We Do

By YLCF | Published: SEPTEMBER 24, 2010

by Abigail Fox

I say that I would die for Thee
But would I daily live?
And should my sorrow mirror Job’s
Would I thy praises give?

I say that I would shout of Thee
In countries far from hand –
But would I dare like Jeremiah
To speak out in my land?

I say that I would trust in Thee
Though all the world laughed long –
But would I build an ark like Noah
Against the currents strong?

I say that I would travel far
But would I dare stay still?
And face the world with Daniel’s strength
And say, “Such is God’s will”?

I say that I would wait on Thee
So patient and content –
But could I work as Jacob did
Till Laban did relent?

I say that I would follow Thee
Wherever I must roam –
But have I faith like Abraham
To face a place unknown?

I say that I would live for Thee
But would I gladly die?
As Moses did so long ago
With Canaan in his eye?

I say that I would ask of Thee
Just one thing, Lord, this day –
That you would give me grace and strength
To face what comes my way.

Abigail Fox lives with her family in England, where she writes, composes, smiles and makes the occasional film.

The completed dress

This dress was such a nice way to get back into sewing! No zippers, no buttons, nothing harder than sewing a curved seam.

Usually, I'm the type of person who rushes into projects and tries to complete them in one sitting. That, of course is impatience and a recipe for disaster! I have had to rip out so many seams, simply because I didn't take the time to plan out what I was doing.

A lot of sewing knowledge or ability comes from experience...which I don't have. But, you can also learn by reading the instructions carefully and planning ahead.

With this project, I was forced to take my time, and make the most of the time I had. It turned out so well, I think I'll do all my projects like this from now on.

I guess 'Slow and steady wins the race' applies to sewing too??

So here it is...

Very simple...

Very easy... 

Very nice... : )

Different project

I decided that before I went to the extra expense of ordering the pattern I wrote about last time, I'd try out a pattern I already had.

I am making the shorter length with a v-neck and plain short sleeves. 

I went ahead and used some old scrap fabric I had and sewed the dress almost to completion, just to make sure it fit right and I liked it. Then, went to the fabric store yesterday and got the fabric.

It's a cotton batik. I have a hard time envisioning the finished product of any project I take on, but mom seems to think it will do very nicely.

I got it all cut out last night, and hopefully will be done by Saturday. Depending on how it looks, I may wear it to church Sunday.

New project

I feel it in the air...a new project is coming up over the horizon... 

The 1940's 'Swing' dress from Sense and Sensibility patterns.

I guess the interest could have arisen from watching the Waltons and admiring the simple elegance of Olivia Walton. She always looks beautiful and put together, but very practical.

I only have a few dresses, which I like very much, but they are all long dresses. They don't really feel like summer. So, I've been wanting to find a cute little knee-length dress. Then I came across this pattern and thought, "That would be fun! I'll make it!" 

Now, to set aside the money for the pattern and fabric. I've looked at different fabrics and there are so many gorgeous, modern fabrics! Amy Butler has a gorgeous collection. I think I will be ordering from her website. I love these fabrics...

You can probably see I'm partial to greens and blues and browns. 

This is what the finished product *should* look like:

(Thanks to Anna at Pleasant View Schoolhouse)

I'd love to make more than one, if I get the idea of how to do it well enough. Maybe even one for each day of the week! Time to get the sewing machine fired up!

Potty-training

Natalie's done it! She has reached a new stage in her life and made ours a little easier. 

She is potty-trained.

We had tried earlier this Summer to get her started with potty-training, 

but she was very uncomfortable with the whole thing and mom realized she wasn't ready. 

But last Sunday, something told mom that Natalie was ready. So Monday morning, no more diapers. She wet several times, and didn't really go in the potty. But the next day was much better. 

She started catching on and feeling like a big girl. 

By the third day, she had no accidents and was acting like she had a new toy! 

Now she will not have a diaper put on her for anything! To go somewhere and at bedtime, 

it has to be a pull-up : ) I am so proud of my baby--I mean-- *little* sis!

God is so good!

Overwhelmed by the goodness of God this morning...and by the fact that, "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

We were walking the same path as so many do now and nothing but God's Grace and Goodness has caused us to love Him and made us able to enjoy life in Him.

"Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ! --assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:17-24

"But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, 

although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. 

For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Romans 3:21-26

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5

Praise Him!

A question posed to me today...

"If you choose to be a stay-at-home daughter, how will you meet potential suitors?"

You better believe that question has crossed my mind a time or two. And just like other things in life, it requires faith in the One who can be trusted above all.

My answer to her was:  Obviously God brings people together in college, and so He, too, brings people together outside of college. 

On the practical side, a major way is through conferences - church and homeschool. I've heard of so many people marrying after meeting at a conference. And I'm heading to one in December! (praying)

Also, we've had several people visit and join our church because they found our website. A 24 year old just moved here a few days ago from Ohio and he knew to visit our church because he found our website. He's probably going to be joining our church soon. 

So, while I feel isolated sometimes, God knows where I am and where 'he' is too. As long as I follow His lead, if He intends for me to marry, He'll cause us to meet somewhere

 along the way!

Now, I don't have it 'down pat'. Ask me this question when I'm discouraged, and I may just say "I don't know!". But what I wrote above is what I know deep down.

I'm doing my best to make Jesus my focus now, because I know that if/when I do marry and have babies, it will be even harder to be focused on Him!

The article that inspired that question, you can find at the Raising Homemakers blog.

Update on the *two* mother hens

Okay, so it turns out, the other hen was not just going to lay an egg, she was going to lay on eggs.

Okay, so here's who we christened 'Ruby'. After this picture, she went for her 'break'. I watched her go out and I was waiting for her to so that I could count the eggs. But, somehow, after Ruby left, another Barred Rock snuck in and on to the nest! So that when I opened the door to count, there was a chicken!

She wants in on this maternal experience too.

So, here's Ruby, back from her 'break' and I guess their discussing the possibility of sharing the duty of egg-sitting.

They must've worked it out because Ruby's settling in.

Sometime after that, they even divided up the eggs. My dad eased them off the nest to count the eggs and he discovered 12 eggs in the corner and 5 eggs in the front!!! 17 eggs!

I think that's a good number, actually, because it's possible not all of them will hatch and also because we don't know how many are roosters! And if they are roosters, we'll want to get rid of them. We only need one rooster and we have a good one.

Digory and his hens.

More on Ruby and the other momma later...

The Lord Will Provide

I and my brother had worship team practice last night and we learned a new song that, each time we went over it, just became more and more profound and meaningful.

It was written by John Newton, the writer of "Amazing Grace".

Without further adieu, "The Lord Will Provide":

Though troubles assail and dangers affright,

Thought friends should all fail and foes all unite,

Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,

The scripture assures us, the Lord will provide

The birds without barn or storehouse are fed,

From them let us learn to trust for our bread;

His saints, what is fitting, shall ne'er be denied,

So long as it's written, the Lord will provide

We may, like the ships, by tempest be tossed,

On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost,

Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide,

The promise engages, the Lord will provide

His call we obey like Abram of old,

Not knowing our way, but faith makes us bold;

For thought we are strangers we have a good guide,

And trust in all dangers, the Lord will provide

When Satan appears to stop up our path,

And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith;

He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,

This heart-cheering promise, the Lord will provide

He tells us we're weak, our hope is in vain,

The good that we seek we ne'er shall obtain,

But when such suggestions our spirits have plied,

This answers all questions, the Lord will provide

No strength of our own, or goodness we claim,

Yet since we have known the Savior's great name;

In this our strong tower for safety we hide,

The Lord is our power, the Lord will provide

When life sinks apace and death is in view,

This word of His grace shall comfort us through:

No fearing or doubting with Christ on our side,

We hope to die shouting, the Lord will provide

It came!

My whole family has rediscovered the wonderful Waltons. Each episode is just so rich! I love how in each episode there is some crisis or trial or hardship that they as a family are able to get through. I feel like I can identify sometimes...

I would love to have a family like John and Olivia. Simple living, several children, country home, family business...But I would want a husband who would be much more of a spiritual leader than John Walton was. He had great qualities, but the most important, faith in God, was lacking.

I have found the best deals for the seasons 1 and now 2 on DVD through Amazon. 

I think the Fowlers are enjoying them too : )

Here's the list of the episodes in season 2...

The Journey- Johnboy takes drives an elderly neighbor to see the ocean before she dies. 

The Odyssey-Johnboy delivers a baby. (guest star: Sissy Spacek) 

The Separation- Grandma & Grandpa have a fight & Grandpa moves out. 

The Theft- John is accused of stealing & won't deny that he didn't do it. 

The Roots- Verdie Grant meets Harley Foster & asks Johnboy to help keep him on the Mountain. 

The Chicken Thief- Johnboy see Yancy Tucker stealing chickens & must decide if he should turn him in to the sheriff. 

The Prize- Olivia's old boyfriend, who is running for office, pays a call to the family. 

The Braggart- Hobart Shank, an old orphan friend of the family, arrives to stay with the Waltons until a baseball scout shows up. 

The Fawn- Johnboy becomes a rent collector, a hated landlord. Erin nurses an orphaned fawn. 

The Thanksgiving Story- Johnboy gets a visit from his girlfriend, Jenny & prepares for scholarship exam. 

The Substitute- Miss Pollard, a strict teacher from New York, is hired to teach the children. 

Th Bequest- Grandma receives a letter stating a $250 inheritance. 

The Air-Mail Man- A plane makes an emergency landing in the Walton's meadow. 

The Triangle- Johnboy gets jealous when Miss Hunter & Reverend Fordwick become a romantic couple. 

The Awakening- Mary Ellen get kissed by a college boy who doesn't know how young she is. 

The Honeymoon- While John takes Olivia on a second honeymoon, several mishaps occur at home. 

The Heritage- John considers selling to mountain. Zeb & Ester celebrate their 50th anniversary. 

The Gift- Jason's friend has a fatal disease and learns he going to die. (Guest star: Ron Howard) 

The Cradle- Olivia discovers she is expecting another baby. 

The Fullfillment- The Waltons try to convince their neighbor, who can't have children, to adopt an orphan boy who is staying at the Walton home. 

The Ghost Story- The children play with a Ouija board & believe they hear from the spirit of a young boy's deceased mother who is trying to warn them her son is in danger. 

The Graduation- The family buys Johnboy a suit to wear for his highschool graduation. He must return the suit for the money, when the family cow dies. 

The Five-Foot Shelf- Olivia & Johnboy get swindled by a traveling book salemsman. 

The Car- Johnboy does work for a man to buy a car for college. Afterward, the man refuses to give it to him because the car belonged to his dead son


Can't wait to get started!

Baby chicks on August 12th?!

We are so excited to announce...we have a broody hen!

Nathan went out Friday to gather the eggs. He found one of the Barred Rock hens sitting on the eggs he needed to gather, which happens occasionally. He thought maybe she just happened to be laying an egg when he went out there.

But, Saturday, she was still sitting there. She even went into attack mode.

Sunday-still there.

And today, I went down there to investigate. I was the one taking care of the chickens the other time a hen went broody. I thought I might recognize the signs. And sure enough, we went down there and she came out and ran at us! Even her clucking has changed to a different sound. I wish I could see how many eggs she has. Mom thinks it could be about 6.

So, 21 days, the incubation period, from Friday the 23rd is August 12th. Will have updates as they happen : ) Maybe even pictures.

Does it have to be one or the other?

Since becoming a member at Simple Truth Bible Fellowship, Calvinism, or the doctrine of Election (predestination), has come more and more before me. Either through Pastors of other FIC churches or through my own Pastors. And while it was an unfamiliar idea, and rather hard to swallow at first, I am beginning to see how it is backed up in the scripture. I would not call myself a "5-point Calvinist", but rather one who accepts the sovereignty of God and His "right" the choose whosoever He wills.

I still believe man has responsibility in the "choice" he makes, but it is God who 'flips the switch' so to speak, allowing us to follow Him. No, more than that, gifting us with the ability to follow Him.  And so everyday after that, we have choices to make. To do what God says to do in His will, or to do what our flesh wills. Nothing we do is apart from God's will, i.e. what He knows will happen. But, when we follow our own desires, this will go against His will, i.e. His commands.

I found this quote by Spurgeon that sum my feelings up well:

"I have long felt that I shall never understand where
the two great truths of free agency and predestination meet. I believe them both—
believe them with equal faith; but how to reconcile them I no longer wish to know,
because I do not think that God intends we should know."

Romans 9:10-13 says: "And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad-in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of His call- she was told, "The older will serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

And Romans 10:9-10 says: "...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

So, here we see God's choice and our choice. I leave the reconciling of the two up to God who is Infinite and Sovereign over this finite mind which I possess. Amen.