The Problem of Pain Continuum...

time to take the hand extended
the battle of the sea is ended
learn to trust the One who knows
the pain of bitter, tearful woes
even though my heart is trembling
fearing, weeping, seeking, wondering
if i can face such pain again
do i dare to test the limb?
with faith unfettered, only trusting
in the One to whom I'm clinging
find the harbor, safe and sound
feel my feet upon the ground...

time to open up, let go...

A special day...

Today the baby of the family turns 8 years old. I can hardly believe it. Jesse is the only brother I remember being born. Of course the other ones were born, but I was too young to remember or not around at all!:) So Happy Birthday Jesse!!!!

Joel's first day of work!

Today Joel is heading off to work at UPS. It is a very exciting time and your prayers are appreciated!

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Here's a recipe for a new soup I tried...

1 whole butternut squash
1 whole sweet onion
2 cloves garlic
salt
pepper
olive oil
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. sage
1/2 tsp. thyme
3 T butter

Peal squash, onion, and garlic. Cut up into cubes and lay on cookie sheet. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake in 400 degree oven for 45 - 50 minutes, until vegetables are tender.

Place vegetables in food processor and whirl, adding broth or milk til they reach desired consistency. Transfer to pan on stove, heat up and add butter and spices. If soup is too thick, add more broth or milk. If too thin, boil til thickened. Serve, and top with a dollop of sour cream, croutons, and/or chives.

*I found this to be a very rich soup. I did about half broth, half whole milk. And I added a small spoon of sour cream. I think next time, I'll skip the sour cream, just because it made it that much more rich. But overall, it was a very very yummy soup...even though Jake said, "It looks like you're eating baby food!" :)

VERY RANDOM...

I decided that it was time I did some writing on this here blog. It might not make any sense, but at least I can say I posted something!:)
December first already. I can hardly believe it! This morning when I went to feed my horse it smelled like winter out! You know that fresh, cold scent? It was wonderful. And now that December has arrived I won't be sad if it snows. The guys are all waiting for snow so they can go snowmobiling. At least the ones that have snowmobiles!:) As for me I want the pond to be good this year. I love skating! And sledding, and building snowmen.:)
YouTube is wonderful at times. I had really been wanting to watch The Family Band and last night I discovered I could watch the whole thing on YouTube! It is one of my favorite musicals. The music is snappy and catchy, which my brothers dread because it means I go around singing it for the rest of the week!:) But really I enjoyed it immensely!
Deer season continues. I haven't been out since last Friday. It has been rather wet and I didn't have anyone to hunt with. Joel and Jason are the faithful hunters. Next year I won't be a junior hunter anymore and will be able to go hunting without an adult accompanying me. One thing I have discovered about deer season: When the hunters come in and you ask them if they saw anything the most common response is..."squirrels" :)
School is going pretty well. I am currently working on a term paper about Glenn Miller. Doing a term paper is a WHOLE new experience for me. It appears a little overwhelming at times, but I just have to take it one step at a time! Looking too far ahead is scary!
Now that Thanksgiving is over it is alright to listen to Christmas music and get out the winter decorations. At least that's the way it goes at our house!:) Speaking of Thanksgiving, I never got around to posting what I am thankful for so I will do it now.
I am so thankful for the way God has been working on my heart. I have begun to realize just how real He is and how much I need Him. I am so glad I don't have to fight the battle of life alone! The Lord is holding my life in His hands, and I don't have to worry about a thing. The other day I heard a song and one line stood out to me, "Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough?" I don't want to be a person who spends their whole life looking for something more. Something besides Christ. Something that can never be found. Jesus is all we ever need.
Yesterday morning when I was reading my Bible I read this verse..."And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed everyone of his vision, when he hath prophesied;neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive." Zechariah 13:4
I thought it really related to the sermon on Sunday. Pastor H was talking about the pure in heart. Pure in heart does not mean without sin. It means showing on the outside what is happening on the inside. Whether it is good or bad, we have to be real. We can't go around being fake, covering up hurts, putting on an act to impress others. God has called us to be special, to be his child, different from others, and His greatest desire is to have us living for him everyday...
"All I wanna do is wake up, and spend this day with You!"
Mom and Dad are heading out Christmas shopping this afternoon. I am going to make an Eclair cake for Jesse's birthday, mix up a batch of fudge to send in Danny's Christmas box, and hopefully start getting out Christmas decorations! Yippee!!!
Well, I hope I didn't lose you. Are you stuck somewhere between YouTube and deer season?:)

The Problem of Pain...

i cannot reach, don't want to try
tears falling from a darkened sky
the pain is rolling over me
like breakers in a wild sea
my God reaches out His hand
to pull me to the hope of land
but i'd rather swim and hope to reach
the far off dry and sandy beach
because the God who calls my name
who wants to save me is the same
One who let me feel this pain
and if i trusted Him again
would He let more pain come in?

Feeling a Little Bit Like...

I enjoyed seeing the snow falling while listening
to Bing Crosby sing "I'll be Home for Christmas"....

...and the smell of fresh granola.