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By bethany (dreadlock girl), January 22, 2010 11:05

Jackson (5 years) told me that he wanted to write out the Commandments. We couldn't quite fit ten on his stones.

We have been going through seasons of change, of difficulty, of quiet and silence as far as direction goes. Recently we have heard God’s leading. A while back we felt God called us to be missionaries to Spain and with all our hearts were thrilled to go. When we visited Spain we just didn’t have a peace about it at all, it was an unmistakable ‘NO’. This was confusing, nothing short of devastating but I clung to the verse that ‘To obey is better than sacrifice’ (1 Sam. 15:22) or in my case it would be to obey is better than blessing- because I just couldn’t wait to go. As much as I know the truth in that, and in serving where He has called us it was hard. So then by assumption we just decided to stay at the church to which we moved, so that we could go and work with my parents in Spain, because maybe God was calling us there instead. I do not doubt for one second that God’s plan and will was even there in that. I actually know that to be true now.

At that time we decided to pray, we have been praying since we got back from Spain in September praying for peace and confirmation about what His will for us was. The uncertain thing about prayer isn’t that God hears or  answers- but that he does so in ways we don’t expect. I prayed that God would give me the ability to not be in the way as He lead. I mentioned before that we have felt in a holding pattern- in a silent place of waiting on God. That season just ended, we are in a new season. God has recently told us to head back to Calvary Chapel and as much as we are excited to go back home- I hate looking fickle. I am the type that once I make a decision I want to stick to it even if it isn’t the right one. But that would be disobedient- and sin. So with mixed feelings of joy and shame we decide to go.

But God wants to deal with even that feeling of shame in me, to take that guilt away and give me what He intended to give me all along. After it was confirmed that we would go back, I started trying to pray and thank God,” Oh God it is so good that you brought us to this other church to reach out, to stir things up and if only to meet one person who needed us- we are so thankful” I was once again humbled as God spoke to me about how that was part of what happened because of our obedience, but not why he brought us there. This is what He spoke to me:

When you realize your place through humility, through being broken and brought down low- only then will I be glorified. Because only then will you understand completely that any step above eternal condemnation is a gift and not yours to hold to tightly, or yours to boast of, find pride in, come to expect, or feel you have earned.

That is why there is beauty in the broken and why pain brings joy. Because only then do you not lean on yourself- you have no choice but to lean on Me. No longer will it matter if others think you are obeying or hearing, no longer will it matter because you are steadfast in Me. You have surrendered.

God spoke that to me a couple nights ago. I wrote it down and the first feelings were shock, relief, joy and then embarrassment. God was working on me trusting Him, which I already thought I did. But now I realize that for me it is harder to trust Him when He wants me to do things that make me look bad, make me look indecisive or confused, or when He tells me to stay and not to go. I can be so critical, so quick to judge others- why would I assume God would share His plan for them with me? He didn’t even share His plan for me with me!!

At womens Bible study (that I have still been attending at Calvary Chapel Corvallis) our leader Cindy has been challenged that it shouldn’t be ‘more of God and less of me’, but ‘all of God and none of me’. I agree, because no matter how many bad things I didn’t do, no matter how much I could have sinned growing up and didn’t- nobody owes me anything. Actually I am the one who owes, I owe a debt that I can’t pay. I am entitled to nothing- but through God’s grace I am justified.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3: 22-24

What has God been working in your lately? I’d love to hear!

Comments (23)

By bethany (dreadlock girl), January 18, 2010 16:51

I have always known my right of passage would be solitary and severe. What I didn’t know is that it would come today. The question is, what constitutes a true able-bodied- farm girl and not just a trend follower-backyard farming-enthusiast ? Anyone can have the farm animals, have the land, and give the time it takes to tend and nurture the whole package. That is most certainly not what makes a farm girl.

The make of a farm girl is one who can follow animals and their land through all seasons, not just the pleasant ones. Today a chicken died. The death in itself is not what I am speaking of though, it is that I was able to pick up the body and dispose of it that today made me into a farm girl. I no longer have to have a man to do my bidding, I don’t have to wait for him to come home and deal with the deceased bird. Death is-as we all know- a part of life, all life ends in death and I knew from the start that when I was able to touch a dead body that I would have reached that coveted status of farm girl.

We can all follow backyardigans, those trend-loving folk in whose growing circles chickens are trendy right now, growing your own food, subsistence living, and  all such stuff. Having animals, feeding them and keeping them alive does not a farm girl make. One of those is made by doing the one thing you can’t stand even thinking about, looking at, or touching- not like a girl, but like a farm girl. For me that meant grabbing that chicken by the feet and  dealing with the feathery bod, might I say- like a real man would? Yes. I would. No icky tummy, no eyes closed and jumping backwards, no fretting, screeching or crying but just dealing in  quick and precise movements. This might not be your right of passage at all, maybe for you what you dread the most of it all would be watching a live birth, or dealing with chicken poo, those all are just not my hardest thing to have to deal with, they don’t even faze me really. Death of an animal for me is the worst, and not just death- but even looking at the dead body. Today I forced myself to pounce through that door and earn my right to be there with the rest of ‘em. It is now that I am able to take and deal with the full responsibility of my animals. Today I became a real farm girl.

PS. I will let you know when I have become a ‘Farm Woman’-as that would entail shooting the chicken and plucking and skinning and stewing it. Let me just say I haven’t gotten there yet, not yet.

What would be your most dreaded duty if you have or were to have farm animals??

Comments (1)

By bethany (dreadlock girl), January 3, 2010 23:45

During the holidays we got to visit the Corvallis Society of Model Engineers. These stinkin’ sweet grandpops take their model trains super seriously and we got to reap the benefits! This place has been around since 1959 and it is very neat to watch the men up in the booths with their headsets on communicating to each other and using “railroad slang”. It was almost as neat to watch them play with the trains via commands as watching the actual trains come and go all around us- nearly, but not quite.  The boys were fascinated by everything, the smallness of it all and loved looking at all the miniature buildings, cranes, bridges and farm houses. It was the perfect thing to do with the boys. Thank you Grandma Canfield for taking us!

And we did finally spot the highly anticipated Spiderman Train. We looked everywhere and then just broke down and asked.

Comments (2)

By bethany (dreadlock girl), December 30, 2009 21:26

Kids in the Holiday Kitchen: Making, Baking, Giving

The holidays are a time when everyone just wants to create. Weather it be crafts, gifts or yummy treats to eat- the time that we get to spend together is so much better spent when we get our hands sticky, right!? Kids (and even adults) of all ages will find some eye-catching pictures in Kids in the Holiday Kitchen, pictures  that will reel them right in to want to make the recipes/crafts. From the Stuffed French Toast (on page 14), the Sugarplum Lollies (p. 36) to the crafts of Stellar (felted) Stockings (p. 81) and the Let There Be Light (colourful beeswax candle) (p. 88) there is more than enough so that everyone  in the family will find a “must make”.

These projects are made to be kid friendly and most kids preschool age and older could do a portion of the work with a parent helper. Older kids could do them completely by themselves.  It is a way that children can take ownership of making their gifts for their teachers, aunts or that special friend that needs a little encouragement. It is never to early to encourage giving and Kids in the Holiday Kitchen encourages a season of giving all year round, even from the littlest hands. This books gets two thumbs way up from me. I am leaving you with a recipe from the book that would be perfect for your New Year’s celebrations!! Yum.

New Year’s Nuggets

Chocolate-Caramel Popcorn, from Kids in the Holiday Kitchen (p. 45)

You’ll Need:

1/2 Cup Dried Yellow Popcorn
Scant 1/4 Cup Water
3 Tablespoons Canola Oil (optional)
1/4 teaspoon orange extract (optional)
1 Cup Sugar
8 Ounces Milk Chocolate
1/2 Cup Light Corn Syrup

What to do:

1. Pop the popcorn.

2.  Line several cookie sheets with parchment paper.

3.  In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and water. Heat over medium-high heat until golden brown, and 5 minutes. Stir gently, add the orange extract, if using, stir again. Add some of the popcorn and coat it with the caramel. use a wooden utensil to help coat the corn. Place the coated kernels on the parchment paper to cool. Repeat.

4.  When cool, break up the clumps of caramel corn, keeping the corn clumps on  the parchment.

5.  Heat the chocolate over low heat in the top of a double boiler, or in a metal bowl over a saucepan filled with 1 inch of hot water (creating your own double boiler). Heat the chocolate until it’s smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Make sure the chocolate doesn’t burn.

6.  Fill a ladle with the melted chocolate and lightly drizzle over the caramel corn. Let the chocolate caramel corn cool for 30 to 45 minutes. To make gifts, put small batches in cellophane bags; otherwise, wrap in parchment paper and keep in a Tupperware container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.

Makes 4 Cups

Watch Chronicle Book’s Kids in the Holiday Kitchen book trailer:

Title: Kids in the Holiday Kitchen
ISBN: 9780811861397
Subtitle: Making, Baking, Giving
Author: Jessica Strand & Tammy Massman-Johnson
Photographer: James Baigrie
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Subject:Holiday – Christmas, Crafts for Children, Handicraft, Recipes
Publication Date: November 2008
Pages: 95

I am an affiliate of  TOMS SHOES and Powell’s Books and I do receive a percentage of the sales of any item you buy using my links. Thank you!

Comments (5)

By bethany (dreadlock girl), December 30, 2009 11:30

At our house we are all different- as far as hair that is. I have dreadlocks, my husband has thick curly hair, Oliver has really fine kid hair and Jackson has thick blond hair.So finding a shampoo that would work for us all didn’t even seem to be an option so I just stopped thinking about it. Then one day I decided that I wanted to make my own for dreadlocks, because dreadlock specialty soap is stinkin’ spendy! Brad wanted to try it too, and then the boys- by mistake I have brought us all together under one uniting shampoo!

I looked around for a bit and found some good ideas on natural hair care here, and was excited to see that she was using tons of other ideas that I already loved-such as the coconut oil, I just can’t get enough of that stuff!!

After a bit of browsing, I came up with this recipe and it works for all of us.  Since we are trying to simplify one shampoo for us all is a good step to take. Before this we used the Burt’s Bees tear free for the boys, no-residue dreadlock shampoo for me, and Brad used an anti-dandruff shampoo and conditioner. We’ve eliminated all of those (well the boys are still finishing up their last bottle of Burt’s) and now just have this nifty spray bottle thingy. We all love the lather that comes out of this green bottle, and knowing what is in our products makes life even better.

It works so well for Brad and I, it isn’t anti-dandruff and (as I predicted) he hasn’t had a problem with dandruff in the last 3 months since our switch-over.

A Homemade Recipe for  Natural Shampoo

1/4 Cup Water
3/4 Cup Lavender Doctor Bronner’s Multi-Purpose Soap
4 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar
1 teaspoon of Glycerin
6 Drops Tea Tree Oil
6 Drops Lavender Oil
6 Drops Ylang Ylang Oil

Combine all in a bowl or Pyrex measuring container (I use the one with the spout for easy pouring). Stir together and then pour into your spray bottle. These can be purchased anywhere. I got this one at Bi-Mart. You are done, now go wash your hair!

This recipe can be tweaked to meet your needs, it will leave your hair with more of its natural oils in it as it is not a commercial shampoo meant to strip all oils out of your hair- however if you find it just too much leave out the glycerin the next time around.

Also check out my Homemade Bath Salts Recipes!

If you make this recipe, or have your own-please share! I’d love to hear from you.

Comments (6)

By bethany (dreadlock girl), December 10, 2009 23:29

Spending time with family and friends is a special treat, especially when it involves a farm, copious amounts of food, cheerful banter, and a good sized wood stove to keep the temperature nice nice and cozy. First we talk, get acquainted and re-acquainted (depending on the situation) later we chow down and when finally the most reluctant of quitters push their chairs away from the table we head on out for a walk to explore the green farm trails and pastures. Family and friends, there is nothing quite like a day spent with them, nothing.

What are your family gatherings like? Do you have a favourite dish made in steadfast tradition by that certain relative?

Comments (8)

By bethany (dreadlock girl), September 19, 2009 15:28

On our first stroll through Segovia, Spain:

Photo Spain Posts to Date:
Spain Through My Camera Lens
Our Conquest of Spain: Arrows and Sticks

I will try to post pictures here again, but I will be uploading them all to my flickr album España.

If you want to see our pictures of Spain in your google (or selected) reader sign up for the RSS for the España flickr album.