Sunday, November 25, 2007

Recipes, Please!

I know this is not on the scheduled topic, but I need some recipes........

Dear Friends and Family,

I have a project that I am doing with my sisters. We are collecting a whole bunch of holiday favorite recipes. I am asking if you would be willing to share some of your family tradition favorite recipes. I am compiling them, to give away as gifts to family members, and friends. If you have any to share, please email them to me or put in the comment section. 1 or more is great. I would really like to see what you all like for the Holidays!Cookies, cakes, bars, balls, main dishes, snacks, breakfast,etc. Please share anything that is your family favorites for the holidays.Please put them in the comment section of the posting, or email them to me!

Laura H.

lmh4him@hotmail.com

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

A Mayden is.... Content!

Ok, I am changing around December and March. We are doing Contentment now, and Kind in March. Is that ok with everybody? I know that I am not the only one who can write about things on this subject. So, let out your hearts, dear ladies, and we will learn from eachother.

Laura H. Administrator

Friday, November 16, 2007

Please Pray!

I know, I have been doing this alot lately, but I feel like if we storm the gates of Heaven, maybe miracles can happen.

Ok, here it goes. I have developed a friendship with a young man, name will remain anonymous, via email. He lives on the other side of the country. For now, he just wants us to just be friends. Who knows what the future will hold.

I want you to pray that I will have the wisdom to be a sister in Christ, and a friend to him, while we are writing together. He is a great guy, and loves his family, and God. I would like to meet him in person, of course, but that is kinda impossible, since he lives in Georgia and I live in Washington State.

Oh, where did I meet him? On the Homeschool Alumni website. I have a page there, and I am greatly enjoying my time on there, meeting some new friends and finding some old friends too. I didn't know anything like this existed, but it does. You would all appreciate it!

So, if you sisters would pray for me, as I gain more wisdom to save my heart until the right time, and just be a friend to him, while he needs it! We have been doing bible studies together, and talking about everyday things, so nothing serious has come up yet! There are many things we have in common!

Got to go! Getting ready for school!

One of the Maydens-
Laura H.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

He is writing my story

… And the plot He has in mind sometimes has nothing to do with what I would have written. His plans often disagree with mine, and sometimes leave me puzzled for a long time, wondering and asking: "what is it that You want me to do? What is the lesson You are trying to teach me?"

Sure, had I been given an author's license over my life, I probably would have made a completely different story of it. I would have had myself born into a big, warm, loving, strong-knit and deeply religious family, residing somewhere in the beautiful countryside. There would have been no core disagreements between myself and my parents and siblings.Had I been able to write my own story, it would have included being faithfully guided and instructed by my parents from a young age, never lacking in feeling of security and abundance. At the age of 18, I would have planned meeting Prince Charming, courtship with the blessing of my family, marriage, and two sweet children – a boy and a girl – by the time I was 21.

I would not have chosen for myself a fatherless childhood, growing up with a mother who did her best – as the situation allowed – but was naturally tired and overwhelmed; many years of emotional and financial struggles; lack of instruction in the things most crucial and important for a young girl; rebellious years, which included every folly you can think of; pain and hardship, neglect and abuse, disappointment and sorrow, fear and despair. No, I would not have included all that in my story.

But He is the author – not me. And every day, he is writing another line, paragraph, chapter, making the story of my life unique and beautiful, and suited for His special plan. He includes darkness to accentuate light, and allows misery so that joy and hope can shine brighter. Like a painter, He chooses the loveliest colors; like a sculptor, He carves rough stone into a beautiful statue.

Sometimes, I involuntarily stop in my tracks, turn to Him and say: "You made a mistake. See, it was supposed to happen this or that way. And this wasn't even supposed to happen – what are You thinking?"But today, I will try to find peace and put my life in His hands. I will try to enjoy the story He is writing, without forcing my own humble suggestions if I see they don't fit in His plan. I will try to let go of anxiety and frustration, bitterness and resentment, fretfulness and desire to be in control. Today, I will drop my pen and become a faithful reader, a reader who enjoys and delights in every word and every bend and turn in the story, not taken aback by the unexpected, not broken by the undesirable.He is writing my story. And yours, too! Are you delighting in yours?

Thursday, November 1, 2007

A Lesson in Patience

Ladies, please forgive me for just now posting this! It's a little late.......
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My mom recently learned a lesson in patience, and I wanted to share it with you, in hopes that through it you will see just how important it is to wait on the Lord! This story may seem like a small thing to you, but it was really really neat for us!

Back in January, Mama had contacted a local cabinet maker. She wanted him to make her a big bookcase for our den. She knew he was a very busy man, and that she would therefore have to wait a couple months for him to be ready to come by to pick up her drawing for the bookcase. But she was not prepared for how long it really took, and she began to grow impatient. Month after month rolled by, with no word from him. She called and called and called some more and all he would ever say was that he was really busy but would get to her as soon as possible. More months went by, and more calls were made, and nothing happened. One day, a few weeks ago, she called once more. A man who works for the cabinet maker answered the phone. They talked for a few minutes about the bookcase and about the cabinet maker's schedule. One of the last things this man said before they hung up was, "Well, there's a reason for everything. Obviously there's some reason why it's taken so long." And indeed, there was.

About a week or two ago, Mama was looking at her drawing of her desired bookcase, as she had many times in the past, just to check and make sure once again that there was nothing at all that she wanted to change about it. For the very first time, she discovered that there actually was something that needed changed! And do you know what happend?! You can probably guess! Just a couple short hours after Mama discovered the change that needed to be made, the cabinet maker called letting her know that he was ready to stop by to pick up the drawing, so that he could get to work on the bookcase. Mama was amazed!!! She knew that that was the Lord. He had taught her a lesson that I know she will never forget!

What might have happened if the Lord had allowed her to have her way, and she could've gotten her bookcase started in a much shorter time? She would have paid for a bookcase that wasn't what she truly wanted. She would have been upset, sad, possibly even angry. But the omnipotent Lord God Whom we serve, knew what was best for her, and thus He made her wait. He taught her a valuable lesson in patience!

So, dear ladies, let this true story serve as a reminder and inspiration to you, especially during those times of long waiting. The Lord always knows what is best for us! All we need to do is trust in Him, be patient, and wait for His perfect timing.