Chicken Stock and a Funny Bird

Chicken stock in the roaster oven

 

Moses, explaining to be me how good the pancakes were that Andrew made for breakfast:

"I think Ain-drew's* pancakes are so, so, so yummy.  'Specially with chicken soup poured on top**."

YUM!

*This is how he pronounces Andrew

** He did NOT pour chicken soup on top.

Septembering

 

(These campari tomatoes were prolific this year- and amazingly, the plants were started by the seed of a grocery store tomato!) 

Spring blossoms burst into summer abundance and now, only the most robust and stalwart blooms, stand fearless against impending frost.

Sun-warmed tomatoes plucked and popped in cheeks have been replaced by roasted veggies caramelizing on sheets.

Bare toes and bare bellies are now clad in cotton and rubber.

Candles have replaced late sunsets.

Suppers are, once again, relegated to the dining room.

Soups, warm bread, apples, pumpkin and cinnamon; they call to me.

Summer happened- one of our busiest yet.  The people who never leave home, wound up doing so TWICE. TWO separate vacations.  One fancy.  One campy.  I turned the big 4-0.  Matt and I celebrated the big 2-0.  

And in the meantime, we lived.  

Pictures of it all will come... sometime.

In the meantime, we are in the midst of winter/clothing switchover (for all those who do this thing- you understand!)

We started h'learning and it is not for the faint of heart.   (for all those who do this thing, you understand!)

There is food rotting in the gardens though I vowed not to waste A BIT OF IT yet I can't seem to make room for the "doing of it" either. (for all those who do this thing, you understand!)

There is not enough time in the day to do all that needs to be done. (for all those living, I am sure you understand!)

So I plod along, trying (sometimes, successfully, sometimes less so) to be content that God put me in this place, in this time, with these many tasks set before me and people who depend upon me... and He did it on PURPOSE.   

Not only that- but a thing I (we ALL?) forget too often is that the Giver of the jobs was the very Same that made the boundaries of time.  

I take this to mean that it is OKAY that I have too many things to do in a single day.  The Lord doesn't expect me to get it all done in a day. Lo and behold, a new day dawns.  There is work to be done.  I shouldn't feel guilty if my list isn't as dwindled as I wish it were (though I sometimes do).  I needn't be overwhelmed (though I often am).  

I am working on that.

I have been reflecting on these fabulous quotes from Elisabeth Elliott and trying to soak up the wisdom and truth within...

The fact is, as believers, it is not about us.  It is not about my happiness, my joy, my wellbeing.  It is about the glory of God and the kingdom of Christ.  The only means to real joy and contentment is to make His glory the supreme objective of my life.

~~~~

This job has been given to me, therefore it is a gift.  Therefore, it is a privilege.  Therefore it is an offering I may make to God.  Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him.

Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God's ways. In this job, not in some other, God's looks for faithfulness.