Last Minute Gift Ideas

Our family loves to take on D.I.Y projects. Especially this time of year. I love everything crafts and Mama can sew very well so together we make a good team! This year we decided to make blankets and love boxes. Plus I am crocheting a few extras. (We definitely have our hands full and it is already December!!!) Anyway, I am throwing together a few last minute things and we are both sewing like there is no tomorrow. (Which, there isn't. Tomorrow  will always be today when we get there!) Anyway.....

A few good last minute gifts that  I am crocheting are stuffed animals(for kids), scarves(for anybody), jewelry(for special ladies), and hats.Well, I'm not making hats but, they are fast and easy.Patterns can be found for free all over the internet just do a quick google search and voila!

Now, the love boxes(or baskets) are a lovely gift that you can throw together in a pinch and since there are several things in the box there is bound to be something that the recipient of the gift will like. First of all, you need to make or purchase the gifts. We usually fill these boxes with homemade candy and stocking-stuffer type things. Like homemade goodies(more candy, jelly, instant drink mixes, etc.) stationary or note card sets, movies, books, games, and so on.  Then you will need  find or purchase a box or basket that your gift-stash will fit into. Add a couple of hand written, Merry Christmas cards and wrap! Then give it away or send it off. We will have to send ours this year. We just have to figure out exactly how we are going to ship it.

When all is said and done, more is said than done. Nevertheless, we do our best to give good gifts and give all the honor and glory to greatest gift-giver ever, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. May we all be happily busy this holiday season!

Thanks giving...only one day a year?

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year! In fact, it was so full I ran out of time to put up my Thankgiving blog post(sorry) I was also full of food for about two days but, that is a different subject.
This is one of my favorite holidays. I always stuff myself with pumpkin pie. Although this may be a bad habit, I only do it once a year so...I know, I can't justify it but I enjoy the pie anyway!
Really, I am very thankful for all the blessings I have including pie and Thanksgiving day is a wonderful opportunity for me to brag about all those blessings and my Jesus that gave them to me. However, I was surprised how un-thankful so many other people seemed to be. Even in the stores! They only had fall decorations up for a week then up went Santa and the Christmas trees. What a greedy generation! "Hurry up and eat the turkey!" they say, "So we can open presents!" Who cares about the One who really cares about us as long as "santa" give us what we want. Oh please.
I get so aggravated this time of year and I will say why in my Santa post that will be coming up but...back to Thanksgiving.
I had a good time and I am still thankful today for all the things I was thankful for then. Maybe even slightly more thankful. For, each day that passes reminds me of how precious the next day will be. I will be 18 next year and I get a little emotional when I think about everything that means. Growing up...(sigh) Someone told me that growing old was inevitable but growing up was a choice. I guess that's true. I am just very thankful that I can just trust my God with these issues and enjoy life!

The Abundance of a Mundane Life

John 10:10 "... I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

Those who only glance at my life, or the life of other Christians, might only see another somebody and quickly forget who we are as they rush about their hectic day. That is their loss. Our life is in the hands of Christ Jesus and He fills each day with such abundance that I often wonder what would happen if all God's people suddenly became the mundane robots people seem to think we are. Would the media recognize it? I think so. Can you imagine the headlines?  Christians world wide are no longer attempting anything! Oh my, that would be awful!
I am so thankful that God has given us life more abundantly! Not only more good things or higher mountains but, more sad things and lower valleys. Our Abundance could be compared to a go-cart track and a roller coaster. Before we were born again our life was a go-cart track; going around in circles as fast as you can but really going nowhere. Then, Jesus redeemed our lives and now we are on a roller coaster. Lifting our hands to God as we go and eventually ending back were we started; in the hands of God. Thank God for the abundance of a mundane life.

A Carolina Specialty

I discovered Cheerwine shortly after we moved to North Carolina and I fell in love at the first sip. I had no idea what I was getting into. I'm not the kind of person that drinks alot of soda. I know that's abnormal for a teenager but, I can't bring myself to drink something that I know is not good for me. I challenge you to research the ingredients in soda and see if you would still drink it! The chemicals and excessive amounts of sugar have diabetes written all over them! However, I will compromise for Cheerwine. It's carbonated, cherry red sweetness is too good to resist and when the ice cream is on sale, oh my! I would gladly accept a Cheerwine float, even in November! Needless to say, it is now my all time favorite soda. (Sorry A&W) And I have no idea why I am blogging about this except we just returned from a hunting trip and I am craving a Cheerwine float. Oh well, I don't need all that sugar anyway. (sigh)

The Farmer and The Lord

I just love this song! It always reminds me of the simplicity of Christianity that is so often over looked. The recording is kind of old but the message still applies!

Why Chocolate?

What makes a girl like chocolate so much? There's sooo many things to choose from; bubble gum, jolly ranchers, dum dums, candy corn, mints, and much, much more! What about chocolate is so tempting and alluring? What makes this treat so memorable that a mouth will water at the very mention of the word? Could it be the bliss of sweet creaminess melting in your mouth, or the delight of a moderate sugar rush? Who knows! All I know is.....I'd rather have chocolate!!!

Purple Honey

We have purple honey for sale on a beekeeping forum that I am a member of. For the whole story you can read This Post on my mom's blog. (She is playing with some of blogger's new design gadgets so, bear with her.) Her post is about the best description we have of this stuff. It is so rare and we were really blessed to be able to harvest enough to sell this year. Also, if your just curious about purple honey, you can read this thread at the beekeeping forum where I will be selling the honey and ask questions there, if you have any.

Vitamin Facts part 6

Vitamin K

As far as I know, there isn't a vitamin F or G. So K is obviously our next victim. I do believe that vitamin K is also the last one on the list. Which means that vitamin K is the last one I have learned about, therefore, the last one I'll be blogging about.(sigh)  Which, I'm sure, will be a relief to my dear readers!
Anyway, vitamin K is very important because without it you could bleed to death! Vitamin K helps your blood to coagulate. So, without it blood does not clot properly which could lead to internal bleeding, and bleeding to death from something as simple as a paper cut. You can get vitamin K in your diet from yogurt, alfalfa (an excellent source by the way), dark green leafy vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, egg yolk, liver, and soy bean oil. To suggest a "proper" daily amount is difficult because, like vitamin D, the needed amount varies from person to person.

I hope that some of this information has been helpful and easy to understand. Just remember that diet and exercise are the keys to preventing those unwanted doctor bills and keeping your body healthy!

Vitamin Facts part 5

Vitamin E

If you know your "ABC's" then you already knew what was next.(I hope) :]
Vitamin E is just as important, or maybe even more important than any of the other 7 basic vitamins. Without vitamin E your body wouldn't be able to absorb nutrients and process other vitamins properly. Which could lead to having the deficiency symptoms of other vitamins and minerals when all you lack is E.
Specifically, vitamin E helps to keep nutrients from being destroyed in your body by oxygen. It also helps your body use vitamin A and increase the amount of vitamin A that can be stored in your liver. E helps convert your food into energy, keep your heart and skeletal muscles healthy, and will help burns heal faster.
Some edible sources of vitamin E are:
-vegetable oils
-wheat germ
-whole grain breads and cereals
-egg yolk
-liver
-bean sprouts
-cabbage
-lettuce &
-yeast
Vitamin E deficiency symptoms are...fatigue, weakness, & deficiency symptoms of other vitamins.
It's hard to determine the amount of vitamin E that you need, because it depends on the amount of fats and oils you eat. Generally, the more fats and oils that you eat the more vitamin E you need.
Just do your best to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle with the 7 basic food groups all incorporated proportionately, with plenty of heart pumping exercise, and you will have nothing to worry about!

Vitamin Facts part 4

Vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin, exists in several forms. Of course there are the edible forms, but there is also a form inside the fatty substances in your body. This form reacts to ultraviolet sunlight in such a way that when it is exposed to ultraviolet rays it converts into a usable substance that your body can then absorb.
Vitamin D functions to help your body use minerals from other foods to build strong teeth and bones, and helps prevent tooth decay.
Vitamin D can be obtained by spending an hour or two outside on a sunny day, or eating some liver(yuck), fish liver oils, sardines, salmon, tuna, or egg yolks. You can also obtain vitamin D from milk that has been exposed to ultraviolet rays (sunlight), since the fatty substance in your skin that is converted to vitamin D also exists in milk.
A lack of an appropriate amount of vitamin D can cause soft or poorly formed bones and teeth as well as rickets. The appropriate amount of vitamin D varies from person to person, so just do your best to eat healthy and spend time outdoors and your body will do the rest!

Vitamin Facts part 3

Vitamin C

Everyone knows vitamin C is important and can be obtained from citrus fruits. However, most folks don't know that vitamin C aids in the prevention of allergies and fatigue! It also helps your body heal cuts, scrapes, burns, and broken bones, it will keep your gums healthy, and helps your body form collagen.
The wonderful C is easily obtained from citrus fruits(duh), as well as berries, papayas, cantaloupes, tomatoes, broccoli, raw cabbage, brussel sprouts, and green peppers. In order to prevent a vitamin C deficiency you need to have some in your diet every day. Be careful not get too much at once, or you might get diarrhea! That would be bad. However, your body loves Vitamin C and unless you take A LOT at once then you will be fine.
Without enough C in your diet you are more susceptible to infections, and(of course) a deficiency. Deficiency symptoms are: Bruises( that you don't know where they came from), bleeding gums, infections, and scurvy. Like vitamin B, a vitamin C deficiency is fairly rare in the USA, but the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! So grab an orange and have a good day!

Vitamins Facts part 2

B complex vitamins

Vitamin B is often hidden in the shadow of vitamin A and the importance of it is sometimes overlooked. The B complex vitamins are fairly easy to obtain in a diet and very profitable for your body. There are four that I've learned about so far and probably several more, but you need to have some of them every day.
Vitamin B functions in your body to...
-use protein to build new tissue
-change food into energy
-help digest your food
-help your body grow at a normal rate
-keep your blood healthy
-keep your gums healthy and prevent tooth decay
-keep the skin around your eyes and mouth smooth and healthy
-help your heart and nervous system work properly
You can get the B complex vitamins from liver, yeast, wheat germ, brown rice, milk, meat, whole-grain breads and cereals, nuts, and most vegetables.
A vitamin B deficiency is pretty rare, but it can lead to anemia and beriberi, which are both life threatening diseases.
As i said, a vitamin B deficiency is pretty rare here in America, so I wouldn't stress over it. Just be careful to make sure that you eat a healthy diet and stay fit and you should "B" fine. :)

Like a Spider

Proverbs 30:28
       "The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces." kjv

When I read this the other day during my devotions God spoke to my heart. He whispered to my soul, "Now imagine what my children could do if they would take hold of the power available to them, to the promises, and heavenly resources I have waiting for all those who are willing to take up their cross and follow me."

What are we doing sitting idle at home with God's word? How presumptuous of us to accept His salvation then bury it and deny it's power and the good it could do. I encourage you, christian, to take up your cross and follow your Saviour. God wants to use you and your talents. Don't believe the lie that you don't have any either. Even if you don't think you have been given a  gift that you can use then realize that you have a mouth, God's word, and the freedom to share those words that save souls. Souls are the only thing worth winning in this life anyway; the only thing that you will be able to enjoy for eternity. 

Friend, I guess that what I'm trying to say is...what will you do with God??
Why don't you be wise like that spider? Take hold of your salvation and go some where with it.

 

Wonderful Mercy

First, I must apologize for my tardiness. It has been a while since I have posted anything and I feel horrible about that but, me and my family have been very busy. You see, we are in our third week of revival (hallelujah!) and it has been a wonderful, very busy, three weeks. So, my blog was low on the priority list, hence, the reason for my inactivity. Again, I apologize, and I will work harder at my blogging faithfulness. However, I do have a reason for coming here today. I wanted to share what God blessed me with this morning while I was reading my bible.

  This morning part of my reading was in Psalms. One of my favorite places to read, it's like the desert table of scripture, but back to the point. I read Psalm 103. As I was reading... verse 11 jumped up and grabbed my attention.

 Ps. 103:11 - "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him." kjv

Then, it came to me...I cannot see the end of the heavens [earth's atmosphere and outer space] and so will I never see the end of God's mercy!! 

Verse 17 says: "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him." kjv

Oh, the width and the depth of this act of love is immeasurable and too great to fully comprehend, but what joy I have in knowing that it is mine! I just couldn't keep it all in and wanted to share. It might sound a little silly for, the devil likes to make God's word sound silly, but this was too good to keep to myself. Well, have a good day and thank you for stopping by my little corner of the net.

God Bless

The story of the Spread Called Dip

Today mom and I were making some shrimp dip. You did notice its called dip,right? Well, as mom was throwing stuff in a bowl mixing everything together I remembered we didn't have any big shrimp to dip in it. So, while I was thinking this and mom was mixing, I opened the can of "tiny shrimp". I asked mom "How are you supposed to dip these in there?"(while waving the tiny shrimp around to make my point) and, of course, with one quick crazy look at me she started laughing! Soon, I found out you don't dip shrimp in shrimp dip but, rather, you spread it on crackers or something.  Still, I think it ought to be called shrimp spread since you spread it you don't dip it. It just seems wrong to call a spread -dip- as if it isn't worthy of the -spread- title.
Anyway, maybe I'm just a little bit crazy and the spreadable dip would prefer to be called dip rather that spread? Ahh, who knows...

No Fear

A mother wolf, alert in fear, 

Guards her playful wolf pups dear. 

Hiding in their woodsy home, 

Where God's creatures love to roam.  

God put in creatures, fear of man, 

When sin had wrecked His perfect plan. 

But in His glorious Earth made new, 

Their trust and friendship will surely renew.  

Our hearts will fill with joy and cheer, 

When man and beast no longer fear! 

With wolf pups then we'll romp and play, 

In perfect harmony each day!  

 By Elma Helgason

Just a cute poem I though you might like.

Awsome search engine!

Some of you may have already heard of swag bucks. It seems to be getting fairly popular, and I understand why!
All you do is use it instead of Google or other search engines and you can win what they have coined "swag-bucks". Which is like money, but you can only use it at their store. What I love about it is, if you don't like what they have at their store you can buy gift certificates for all kinds of other stores! So it's like buying money! Right now, I have 20$ to spend at Amazon.com, and a nice mechanical pencil. Which is handy for doing all my writing homework.
All that just to say; i have added one of their banners on my side bar so y'all can try it out. If you try it let me know, and tell me what you think. If you have a question, just leave a comment.

For the Love of Tractors

There is nothing that says ~country~ better than old rusty tractor or, better yet, a nice, shiny, working tractor! I have always loved tractors. I remember when I was little enough to think I was accomplishing some great feat by climbing up one rear tire and jumping into the seat before my brother did. Then pretending to drive it through some bumpy field as I bounced in place and yelled at my brother to hold on! Yes, I was a little ornery, but we were playing anyway.

I'm older now, which isn't very old, just old enough to keep me from playing on tractors! :)   They are still my favorite piece of machinery, though. You should see some of the looks I get when I express my desire to have a tractor some day. Or I explain the difference between Farmall and John Deere.  I think it's funny, that people think I'm funny for not being the stereotypical teenage, baptist girl. I just really like tractors. After all, they're good for far more than just childhood memories. They start interesting conversations, save huge amounts of time on some farm chores, make good magazines and magazine articles, and are a useful thing to collect. That is, if your in to collecting.

Chainsaws are the only thing that hold as much value to me as tractors, but that's a whole different set of recollections!

Soldier of the cross

This is one of my favorite songs. I so wish I could play the fiddle as well as the musicians there! Any way, here you go....

Beautiful Song

The Benefits of Honey Bees and Beekeeping

one of our girls, hard at work

Honey bees are an essential part of our economy. They pollinate over 1/3 of the plants that make up our diet. Crops such as almonds, apples, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, cranberries, cucumbers, sunflowers, watermelon, strawberries, oranges, and many others rely on honeybees for pollination. Our livestock also rely on honeybee pollinated crops for their food. Such as alfalfa, almonds, and canola. So, not only are honeybees responsible for most of our fruits and nuts, but most of our dairy and meat products as well. In addition to pollinating agricultural crops honeybees pollinate home gardens, orchards, and wildlife habitat. According to a Cornell University study in 2000, the annual dollar value of honeybees to the United States agriculture is over 14.6 billion! That is one valuable insect!

The production of honey is probably the most well-known benefit of honey bees. This sticky, sweet treat is beloved by millions of families around the world and cherished as a delicacy in several countries. It makes a fine ingredient in baked goods and other cooked foods. You can use it as a condiment, topping, or sweetener, in just about anything. Of course, it is wonderful all by itself, too. Besides, every wise grandma knows that a spoonful of honey makes the medicine go down! Honey is also extremely valuable medicinally. It is antibacterial, full of vitamins and minerals, can be used to treat various different infections and diseases, and heal severe wounds and abrasions. Plus, it has NO side effects! It is also used as a beauty product. Honey is a very common ingredient in skin care items and certain soaps. Beekeepers and consumers alike greatly enjoy the benefits of this liquid gold.

Beekeeping is a profitable endeavor for all who are willing to work for the rewards. There is money to be made if you have money, sweat, and elbow grease to invest. Many different beekeeping related products provide several avenues of income. Such as pollination contracts, doing swarm removals, selling bees and/or queens, selling honey, beeswax, beeswax candles, soaps, other homemade beauty and and health care items, selling honey bee related nostalgia, and writing books on the topics of bees and beekeeping. With plenty of hard work and diligence one could make a decent living off of the beekeeping industry.

There is a wealth of knowledge to be gained from a honey bee. She will teach diligence and teamwork like no other teacher could. You will learn to appreciate the simple beauties of nature and the perfect design of the Creator. The steady, sure work of a single bee can inspire action or comfort the overwhelmed. Just watching the honeybees caress each flower, extracting the nectar, is almost a sacred thing to observe. Then to see them work together and function within the hive is truly an unforgettable experience. To happen upon the queen bee when she is working is another incredible experience in itself. Even though you know you are not under her reign you can't help but treat her like royalty. This knowledge is hard to share with words. However, there are encyclopedias full of the scientific knowledge of bees to be studied and research labs across the globe to discover the things we have yet to learn.

As you spend time in the hive looking for the evidence of a queen, and the majesty herself, your powers of observation will be enhanced. Your management skills, record keeping, problem analysis, and organizational skills will be perfected as you strive to be an efficient and productive beekeeper. You will also feel better about yourself knowing that you are contributing to the environment by helping to preserve the honey bees.

Personally, I keep bees because I adore the little insects and find great pleasure in owning my hives. Robbing and extracting honey is one of the things I look forward to and have fun doing. I love to learn and the bees are great teachers. I stand in awe of the perfect design of a honey bee. From their complex eyes to their tiny legs. They are such good examples of God's infinite wisdom. Also, I find it amazing that one little bee can accomplish more in a day than most big men I know! Isaac Watts once asked, “How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining hour, And gather honey all the day from every opening flower?” They are such busy little critters yet, they always take time to stop and smell the flowers!

Change

Well, we are back from Missouri now, and very glad to be home. Undoubtedly, we have much to do and tons of work to catch up on. So, I won't be posting much. Thank you all for being so patient!!
Also, I have decided to change the face of my blog again. ( I'm sorry) I'm trying to find a style I absolutely love that still glorifies God and is easy to look at. With all this new blogger stuff, it's slightly difficult to customize. So, please hang in there!! I'll get back in the swing of things soon enough.
Thanks again for all your patience.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cip Cookies

Cream:
1 Cup of sugar
1 Cup of brown sugar
1 Cup of butter

Add:
2 eggs and mix well

Add:
1 tsp baking soda
0.5 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
mix well

Gradually add:
3 Cups flour

roll into balls and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Flatten with fork dipped in flour to prevent sticking.
Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 min.
So buttery they melt in your mouth!

This is one of my mom's portulaca roses, also known as moss rose. Her others are yellow and pink.
I just thought that I would post something pretty for you to look at while I will be gone.
We have to go back to Missouri to take care of some family business. Don't worry, I will be back in a week or so.
Have a nice summer y'all!

The Isaacs "Peace"

I love this song. It makes me so grateful for the peace that I have and makes me wish that there was someway I could share it with all the searchin' hurtin' souls out there looking for God.

Peace

 

Peace.

A little white dove,

The calm after a storm,

A gentle breeze on a lazy day.

No, not my Peace.

My Peace is...

 

A serenity deep within your soul,

That while all hell rages you know,

You are safe.

You are protected.

You are loved.

That is my Peace.

Most folks think you obtain Peace by forsaking war,

Or by giving to the poor,

Or even simply saying a prayer.

But that's not how you get Peace, 

Not my Peace.

My Peace is a taste of Heaven on earth,

Obtained only through a change of heart.

A change caused by conviction,

Brought on by repentance.

Settled in your soul through trust.

For by grace are saved through faith.

Not by works of righteousness that we have done.

Lest any man should boast.

Therefore being justified by faith,

we have Peace,

Peace with God,

Through our Lord Jesus Christ.

My piece of Peace.

Whew! What a ride!

We have been very busy this month and that is why I have not been posting or getting on blogger at all. Then I got on and realized just how much I didn't like the way I had set up my blog before we left. (sorry) So I changed it. Anyway, we went to Alabama for the 4th of July. That was a blast! We watched fireworks off a bluff,spent a whole day swimming, visited Unclaimed Baggage, and thoroughly enjoyed our first vacation as a family! Then we were home catching up on all the work we left behind when we learned that we have to go back to Missouri for family business. This is after we had spent a month and a half ( March and April) in MO. when my Grandma was sick.
   Well, since my mom will not fly and felt guilty for leaving 2 out 3 of her children in NC, she decided that we are going to rent a car to go to MO,then get the other car, camp at a river, and spend a little time with family, then come home. The challenge is to do this as inexpensively as possible and leave for MO next Monday. All the while my Dad still has to work, we are still trying to continue to serve God in our church just like we have been, do our school work, tend the garden and all the regular things around the house. It's a little overwhelming but God gives grace!
   The other day we were listening to a preacher on cd, Bro. Mike Qualls, and in his message he said that he thinks when we get to heaven, we're gonna' look back over our life and, even though our life is but a vapor, We'll stand in amazement and say "WOW, what a ride!" That will definitely be true for me. My life has barely began yet, the countless experiences, both bad and good, have made it that much more memorable. Thank God for grace!

Wheat Rolls

Mix in a large bowl:
3 1/2 cups of warm water
1/2-3/4 cup of honey
1 cup of oil
4 tablespoons of dry yeast

Then add:
3 eggs
1tablespoon of salt
10-10 1/2 cups of flour( any combo of white and/or wheat)

Knead about 5 min. Shape into rolls. Put on an ungreased pan and let rise for 10-20 min.
Bake for 9-10 min @ 425 F.
This will make a cookie tray very full. You might need two, it depends on the size you make your rolls.
We call it fred bread because everyone in our church fell in love with it after I made them for a carry in dinner. My nickname is fred, so the church family just called it fred bread. Honestly, I don't remember the original title so your welcome to rename it if you want. The rolls are easy to make and quite delicious I hope you enjoy them!

New Template

Sorry for changing the looks of Fred's Corner without any warning! :)
But what do you think?

Sweet and Sticky

Did you know that honey is nectar mixed with the enzymes in a honey bees stomach and regurgitated into honey comb! In other words, honey is bee vomit!
However, it still tastes good and is extremely good for you, but I won't go into all that in this post. :) Actually, I posted today to tell you that we have started our spring honey harvest! We took 3 supers of honey off of our hives 2 weeks ago and started spinning it out last night. So far we have about...3 gallons! We aren't done spinning yet, so I'll tell you the final number later! For now I need to wash the stickiness off the dining room floor, and table, and chairs so we can eat lunch. :)
Have a blessed day!
~Nicky

Beautiful Give Away!

What good, christian girl could say no to a a modest skirt pattern? Definitely not me!
I don't usually participate in giveaways because it's too much hassle, but, there's a first time for everything, right! :)
You can hop in on the fun too! Just visit THIS gorgeous blog and follow the steps!
Enjoy and have fun!
Living life to the fullest, ~Nicky 

The Charge of the Light Brigade

The Charge of The Light Brigade is about the British Light Cleverly Brigade as their infantry of 670 men valiantly rode into the "Valley of Death" in an effort to hinder the Russian guns from moving forward. The Brigade accomplished their goal, but not without a price. Just over 100 men came "back from the mouth of Hell".
There are many possible reasons why the brigade would attempt such a seemingly impossible task, and several will argue whether the action was good or bad. There are also several different applications of the poem. It  can be compared to the christian life as they journey through this sin cursed world, or to the life of a young person trying to survive puberty, or a modern day soldier defending his country and what she stands for, or it could apply to an individual experiencing a very difficult period of time in their life. However you want to look at it, remember, the Light Brigade won the victory, but not without a cost.

          The Charge of The Light Brigade

  

Half a league, half a league,

Half a league onward,

All in the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

"Forward the Light Brigade!

Charge for the guns!" he said:

Into the valley of Death 

Rode the six hundred.

"Forward the Light Brigade!"

Was there a man dismay'd?

Not tho' the soldier new

Someone had blunder'd:

Theirs not to make reply,

Theirs not to reason why,

Theirs but to do and die:

Into the valley of Death 

rode the six hundred.

Cannon to the right of them,

Cannon to the left of them,

Cannon in front of them

Volley'd and thundered;

Storm'd at with shot and shell,

Boldly the rode and well,

 Into the jaws of death,

Into mouth of Hell

Rode the six hundred.

Flashed all their sabres bare'

Flashed as they turned in air,

Sabring the gunners there,

Charging an army, while

All the world wondered:

Plunged in the battery smoke

Right through the lines they broke;

Cossack and Russian

Reel'd from the sabre stroke

Shattered and sunder'd.

Then they rode back, but not,

Not the six hundred.

Cannon to the right of them,

Cannon to the left of them,

Cannon behind them

Volley'd and thunder'd;

Stormed at with shot and shell,

While horse and hero fell,

They that had fought so well

Came through the jaws of Death,

Back from the mouth of Hell,

All that was left of them,

Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade?

O the wild charge they made!

All the world wonder'd.

Honour the charge they made!

Honour the Light Brigade,

Noble six hundred.

By--Alfred Lord Tennyson 

Where I'm From

I am from warm fireplaces, where love and grief are shared,

From the clothesline out back and the bookshelf in the corner.

I am from mobile homes, old homes, brick, and stone houses,

With the laughter of children and fragrance of the season in the air.

I am from the sweet gum with the rope swing on one side and tire swing on the other.

I'm from the rose bush,

Whose fragrant blossoms I remember.

Though gone, long ago.

I am from the Easter get together and handmade quilt,

From Great Grandma's calloused hands and Grandpa's tomato patch.

I'm from stubborn folks and hard working family,

And from a smile an a rainy day.

From, "Do unto others as you would have them do for you."

And "be serious with God and He'll be serious with you".

I'm from the birthday stomp dance.

I am from the hills of Missouri and songs of the Cherokee Indians,

Pork chops with mashed 'taters and pumpkin pie.

From my mother's broken home and ruined life,

That our merciful Saviour rescued her from.

From photo albums and keep sake boxes,

Stored in bookshelves and bedroom closets.

I am a hodge-podge of many things,

Rooted in happiness and heartache.

Family that makes you stronger, and A God, too great for words,

Whose given me these roots I cherish.

This is the poem I wrote for our assignment from poetry class this week. All my family liked it, so I thought I'd share!

A Berry Good Day

It's blackberry season! And yesterday was our first harvest! We smothered ourselves in bug spray and trekked into the woods to pick the wild black berries that are coming ripe. In 2 hours, with 4 of us picking, we picked 2 gallons of blackberries.We were picking thorns out of our thumbs the rest of the day, but when we think of the jelly we'll have this summer all those little pains are forgotten. :)
Now we will keep picking them every other few days until mama has enough to make to lots of jelly and a few gallons in the freezer for winter use. Then, if this year yields a good berry harvest, we might be able to sell a few in our neighborhood!

God's Smuggler

God's Smuggler is a very interesting story I read recently about a mischievous young man from Holland. As a child, he saw Hitler's invasion of Germany and persecution of the Jews. He was spared by the grace of God when the Nazis bombarded his small, dutch town taking food from the poor and arresting those who tried to help the Jews escape. And by God's grace he lived long enough to see the fall of the Iron Curtain in several communist countries.

However, during this period of time the dutch boy had grown into a man known as Brother Andrew. In search of an adventure, brother Andrew found nothing but pain and discouragement until he was wounded as a soldier in the military. This crippling defeat humbled the mighty, young soldier and broke his spirit. It was then that God, in His infinite mercy, was able to reach out to Andrew through his friends and family and bring him to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Then, with bible in hand, Andrew was able to recover from his wounds and God began to prepare him for his great adventure. So, through trial, error, and tests of faith God prepared Andrew for the adventure God had planned. And when God saw Andrew was ready, the Lord sent him forth as God's smuggler.

Now, I won't tell the rest of the story lest I ruin it for those of you who would like to read it your self. Although, I will say that if you start reading it, be prepared to not let go for a while 'cause it is a good book!

How I "bee"came a Beekeeper

As a very young girl,maybe 5 or 6,I developed a love for bees.(except sweat bees) On a spring afternoon I would be picking flowers for mom in the back yard and feel a sharp pain on my little hand or fingers. I would start screaming and swatting at the buzzing thing that flew out of my flower while running as fast as I could to Mama. She would make it feel all better, for sure!
I hated bees then; when Mama told me that bees were what stung my hands. Daddy, defending the bees, told me that not all bees sting people just because. He said that bees could sense when someone was scared and it made them scared too, so they would sting them. Also, the bee might have been defending itself, for fear that I was going to kill it. Daddy also said there were lots of other bees too, besides sweat bees. Bees that pollinated the pretty flowers I picked and bees that made honey. The honey that I rreeaallyy liked to eat!
So, I tried to give the bees a second chance to earn my favor, and they did!
On another sunny day I was outside playing with my dolls when I began to hear a faint buzzing. my heart sped up and I held very still as the sound came closer. When the buzzing thing came close enough for me to see it I realized it was a bumble bee. Probably my biggest fear at the time. Remembering what Daddy told me, I breathed in deeply and tried not to be afraid. For what seemed like an hour, I watched this fuzzy thing fly about. It investigated my dolls and my feet, then the air above them, then my arms, shoulders, and head. Sweat rolled down my face, the bee was out of sight but I could still hear the buzzing. A few moments later it reappeared. It flew about my arms again and decided to land this time. I held my breath and watched as the insect started walking around, almost like it was looking for something. It tickled my arm hairs for a moment, and to keep from swatting it I had to clench my leg with my other fist. Then, the bee began to clean itself, like the flies on the windows of the house did. I relaxed my fist and breathed a little more. Then, without any warning, it happened.
It was rolling on my arm!! As if I was it's playmate! the fuzzy bumble bee was rolling back and forth on my arm licking me! I let out a little relieved giggle and began to talk to my new friend. It stayed for a little time, then flew away. I don't remember being stung any after that, except by the hateful sweat bees.
My love for bees grew and strengthened with me after that. I started learning about honey bees and they fascinated me. The thought of keeping bees in your back yard like pets sparked my curiosity. Especially since I had heard of bee charmers and saw one in a movie. I really wanted bees then, but mama said I was too little. So I waited for a while, then lost interest as I learned about other things that I liked.
Just after my 14th birthday mama asked me if I wanted bees, she said that there was a man on the Homesteading Board who would teach us how to keep bees!
Having forgotten about my infatuation with them, I asked her what for. She said for honey and because I wanted them. Then she reminded me of my love for the bees. I began to see bees around again, they would come up to me while I was working outside and once my brothers and I picked one up off the ground and fed it some honey.
So, Mama took us to the classes in Guilford County. There we met our mentor and my Mom and I became certified beekeepers, after passing the tests, of course.
We have been beekeeping for 3 years now and love every minute of it!
I invite you to join me as we continue to learn and grow and I'll do my best to provide helpful information and keep you updated!
~Living life to the fullest~
~ Nicky ~

I owe my success to my God, who gave me this talent, My Mom, who made it all happen, and My Mentor, who made it all possible! Thanks!!

Welcome

Welcome to my blog, where faith and farming are combined for the glory of God!
Unfortunately, my family doesn't live on a real homestead or farm,but we are renting 5 acres with a nice brick house while we pray about where God would have us to settle permanently.However, while we wait we are growing as much of our own food as we can, keeping honey bees, raising chickens, rabbits, and doves, and learning all we can about living self sufficiently.
So...Serving in the Suburbs,
*Nicky*