The Portion of my Inheritance

The Charlie Jar

August 28, 2014 by peggy1martin2

Out of the gaping wounds of our heart come much joy. The beauty for ashes that cover us so completely and spills out onto others that carry the same scars.

In His great goodness and with His perfect love He draws hearts together, giving strength to those unified under Him.

He intends for us to minster to each other, pouring out hearts and holding each other up, just as “iron sharpens iron.”

And for those who hear the calling and answer, “Here I am Lord, send me”, experience the blessings a hundred fold.

I would like to introduce you to my beautiful friend Kris.

Who through her pain and deep sorrow looked up and found a God that loved her and carried her through the deepest time of her life.

She has used her pain to reach out and minister to others just like herself, each struggling within themselves to make sense of it all.

It is only found in the daily bread, this healing place, and Kris serves the manna with a beautiful, gracious spirit, and she serves it within the Charlie Jars. Bringing hope to mother’s everywhere with the promises of the Lord, bringing a daily dose of encouragement and love.

This was my amazing friends gift to me on my birthday. A Charlie Jar, to bless and encourage me with the hope that she has found in His promises.

She shares her heartbreaking story in her book “Battle Cry” and tells of healing found only in our Jehovah Rapha-The Lord that Heals.

Stop by Kris’ website: http://agirlandsomehope.com/

And if you or anyone that you know needs hope and healing, check out the Charlie Jars.

http://www.charliejars.com/

Your words were found, and I ate them,
And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;
For I am called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts.

Jer. 15:16

Posted in My Heart | 3 Comments »

The Dedication

August 27, 2014 by peggy1martin2

It was Hannah in 1st Samuel that set the example for parents to dedicate their children to the Lord, for His purposes.

And the heart that is turned toward Him is pleasing in His sight, the desire to give back to Him the most precious treasure.

So they come before man; family and friends to declare this desire and this commitment to the Lord.

For it is the wise heart that knows “from whence comes their help”, and we all “labor in vain unless the Lord builds the house.”

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate. Psalm 127:3-5

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Sadie Mae Grace

August 15, 2014 by peggy1martin2

Sometimes the quiet is too loud.

Just dead silence.

And it’s in the silence that I hear her.

The click clack of nails on wood floors.

And it’s in the silence I hear her and go to open doors to outside.

I still close doors, shutting off rooms.

I still watch where I walk, she is always under foot, always following us around the house.

It’s her spot in front of the fire place that’s empty.

And it’s her food dish that I keep thinking I need to fill.

I did not realize the sounds of her until the quiet.

14 years is a long stretch and it leaves a gaping hole.

Our hearts are so heavy in this silence.

We are missing you Sadie Mae.

Sadie Mae Grace November 24, 1999–August 11, 2014

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

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Happy Birthday Kory!

July 29, 2014 by peggy1martin2

I am celebrating today.

These 24 years just flew by. The blink of an eye.

And I ponder the years deep.

The joy of you.

You, knowing how to make me laugh, from the early years you knew how to do that, and I smile at just the thought of you.

And I wonder if you truly understand the miracle of you.

How the Lord used you.

It was you that He used to show me what true sacrifice really meant.

They laying down for Him.

The letting go for Him.

It was through you that He drew me closer to Him.

It was through you that I learned the deep trusting of Him.

The waiting and the searching of Him.

The sweetness of Him.

And Proverbs 29:17 has always been your verse, because you have always been exactly what our Lord intended you to be. “A delight to the soul.”

For it has always been your heart that I have loved the most.

A heart always desiring to be pleasing to his Lord, always seeking and searching Him out.

A heart that loves deep.

A heart that encourages.

A heart that has endured much and has prevailed.

A heart that worships through the music that his Lord gave him, your beauty for ashes.

A heart so big that the chest needed to be expanded to contain it.

My tears fall today over the joy of celebrating you.

Thank you son for teaching me so much and for being a constant example of His love. Happy Birthday!

Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul. Proverbs 29:17

Photos by: Olan Mills, Gilbert Valdez

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Pickles

July 29, 2014 by peggy1martin2

My daughter and I love to watch the homesteading videos by Keeper of the Homestead. You can check them out here:

http://www.keeperofthehomestead.com/blog

They are instructional videos filled with all kinds of information. There is anything from shearing sheep, processing wool, spinning it, and knitting. They teach how to put up fences to how to put up canned foods. They even teach how to process chicken, from plucking it to cutting it up. If you can imagine it, they teach it in these videos. We have watched them over and over and love them.

They have several canning recipes so I decided to try out their canned pickles.

I started with cleaning the cucumbers, washing and rinsing them thoroughly.

While I was cleaning the cucumbers I sterilized my canning jars and lids.I gathered the ingredients that I would need for the pickles.

For the brine I used:

2 qt. distilled water

1 qt apple cider vinegar

1 cup canning salts

1 cup sugar

1 teas. cream of tater

Bring to a boil and let simmer until you are ready to pour into jars.

For best results please check out their full recipe from the video.

I cut up the cucumbers and stuffed them into the hot sterilized jars.

On the top of the cucumbers I added 1/2 head of garlic, a bunch of dill and 1/4 teas. alum. Then I poured the hot brine into the jars, leaving about 1/2 inch at the neck of the jar. Make sure you wipe the rim of the jar with a clean cloth.

Place the sterilized lids on top of the jar and tighten them down. I use the water bath method to seal the jars. I put them in the hot water for about 25 minutes.

I am letting them set up for a week before I try them. It has been many years since I have canned pickles. It is something I used to do with my mother growing up.

You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; They rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. Is. 9:3

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The Hannah Dress

July 24, 2014 by peggy1martin2

I had a window of opportunity just between Hungary and getting ready for school, so I purchased this sweet little dress pattern from Yeppar. A etsy shop that has several cute little patterns. You can find this downloadable PDF pattern here:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/73453300/pdf-pattern-hannah-dress-for-12m-5t-and?ref=shop_home_feat_4

As usual I could not stop at just one.

Once again matching dresses. Since the pattern only goes to size 5, I had to stretch it a little to make Aria’s dress.

The fabric was purchased years ago at Joanns.

The pattern is a simple little dress with four pleats in the front and four in the back.

It slips over the head and closes in the front with a button tab, which I used a coordinating fabric. I used a contrast red bias for binding around the sleeves.

I used the same coordinating fabric to make Anyiah a diaper cover to go under her dress.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children. Proverbs 13:22a

Posted in Sewing | 2 Comments »

The New Family Member

July 22, 2014 by peggy1martin2

I would like you to meet our new family member, Flora.

She is an English Angora Rabbit.

A friend is moving and needed to find a home for her beloved bunny and I was all too happy to take her in.

Besides all this cuteness, she is an amazing bundle of fur, super soft and fluffy!

She has the sweetest disposition and we are all smitten with her already.

But there is yet another method to my madness!

The most beautiful, scrumptious fiber that you will ever lay your hands on!

Yes, this little beauty gives around 4-5 ounces of fiber a year. I am one happy camper!

She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. Proverbs 31:13

Posted in Spinning | 2 Comments »

The Portrait of a Servant

July 18, 2014 by peggy1martin2

I have asked of my Lord. “What does a servant really look like?”

And He has shown me, throughout the globe, His people, working together. Stretched out across oceans and back again.

And it comes in the form of the unexpected, the lowliest places that most would not tread. But His servants willing do that which is not appealing to most.

It looks like a late night plunging of a stopped up commode.

Or in the early morning, way before anyone has stirred, to make sure the coffee is made and breakfast is ready.

It looks like the complete taking care of the needs of others, overlooking the comforts of self.

It looks like leaving your own comfortable bed and sleeping on a expandable chair that collapses at every move.

Or putting your life on hold while you drive, cater to and spend long endless days, early morning til late night serving, and then, serving some more.

The supplying of the daily needs, even before the need was there, it was met, abundantly above what was required.

It looks like the daily activities that leave you exhausted and drained beyond imagination, and then going further beyond the appointed distance.

It is a going beyond the physical needs and serving just to delight. A trait of the Father I suspect.

A sharing of your life, your family, your home and everything that you love and hold dear.

But it is sometimes hard to tell. The behind the scenes are kept in the shadows and there are always so many that it is impossible to know what all is involved to make things happen.

For some, the knowing of Matthew 3:30 has become life, for they have decreased while He has increased. And they do not ask for acknowledgment, nor for some, will they ever get it. Not from the voice of man anyways. But only from the One who sees all. He will not forget.

It is beautiful. And they are beautiful. And He has made all things beautiful.

And it falls upon a grateful heart.

Thank you to my dear Hungarian friends.

They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. Psalm 119:91

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Homemade Salsa

July 17, 2014 by peggy1martin2

I left for Hungary with tomatoes bursting on the vines. I was sure that they would be ready while I was away.

I was surprised when I returned home and Martin presented to me the most beautiful tomatoes we have ever harvested.

Delighted with our crop I could not wait until I could put our treasures to good use.

One of my favorite things about summer time is fresh salsa!

So we gathered our tomatoes, picked the last of our purple onions and started the process of chopping and mixing.

Perfection!!

You have multiplied the nation and increased its joy; They rejoice before You according to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. Isaiah 9:3