Been away...

Well it's sure been a while! Life has just been a little busy for me right now. I usually find time to blog in the mists of it all but this past week I've just been really focused on a few different things, including spring cleaning. I'm not so good at this homemaker thing and I've really been trying hard which resulted in less computer time. I'm just extremely thankful for a patient and loving husband. 

I've also been working on taking care of myself. I've really found that I invest everything into the rest of my family and not enough time in to myself. I'm not talking about for Bible time or for studying but just for relaxing, or making myself feel pretty. So my new thing is... my nails :o) I have to be the world's biggest nail biter lol. But not anymore I'm turning over a new leaf. I find that when my nails are done I don't bite as much. So I got myself a nice little nail kit and some fun spring colors. Hubs is thrilled because he prefers me with my nails longer, or at least there lol.

I've also taken on a new hobby to help my family save money. Couponing. But not your grandma's couponing  I'm talking EXTREME COUPONING! And I am oh so excited. Since some of you may not be familiar with the idea of extreme couponing I'm including a video :o). Since I've been doing this every grocery trip has resulted in us saving 50% or more on our entire grocery bill. I'm hoping to cut it down even more. 

The funny thing is I was praying for YHVH to send me a job opportunity that wouldn't take me out of the home. I was praying that He would open up my eyes and present me with an opportunity that would really help us financially. Then I found out that its possible to get the things we need for our home close to free and that is was entirely possible for me to learn how. I'm constantly amazed at the faithfulness of HaShem and how much He helps. And how often that help comes in the most unexpected ways. I though it would be best if I brought in extra money but He thinks it best if I save us money. Interesting. I'm glad He knows better than I do! Hope all is well with all of you out there!

Passover!

Chag Sameach Pesach!

This and That....

So I've been away a bit this week. Not that I have a lot going on, but, I've been taking care of my hubby whose been having a terrible tooth ache, and my little ones needed attention too! But I didn't want to let the whole week go by with out posting and I have a few things I wanted to share. First I won this BEAUTIFUL Extra Wide Headband head covering from Lexie's blog In Him I Trust. It's from the Sowers of Hope Boutique.  I love it! (Thanks Lexie!)

Next, I would be a TERRIBLE friend if I didn't tell you all about this microwave cake! It took about five minutes to put it together and bake it! Talk about a quick desert anytime! 

• large coffee mug
• 4 tablespoons plain flour (do not use self-rising)
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons baking cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg (We don't eat eggs so I used vinegar)
• 3 tablespoons milkshopping list
• 3 tablespoons oil
• Small splash of vanilla
• ---------------
• • Add dry ingredients to mug, & mix well .
  • Add egg & mix thoroughly.
  • Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
  • Add vanilla, mix again.
  • Set mug in the microwave & cook for 2½ to 3 min at 1,000 watts.
  • Cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!
  • Some report that 2½ minutes works best. It depends upon your microwave. So, watch carefully to not over do it!
  • Remove from microwave.
  • Allow cake to cool a little, then tip out onto a plate, if desired.
  
  
  Last but not least is this delicious fruit salad I made for Shabbat. I just figured apples and kiwis would taste good together. But I had not idea it would be THIS good. I took 4 kiwis and 2 green granny smith apples cut them into bite sized pieces and mixed with fresh lime juice from a whole lime to preserve the apples color. Everyone was very well pleased. 

I pray that you all have been having a great week and are looking forward to a beautiful Sabbath. 

Shalom! 

Preparation Day!

Since the sun is setting later on Saturday than it was a month or so ago I have to prepare more food in order to make sure that no one is hungry. So I've decided to share our menu. We're sort of vegetarians. We still eat kosher fish but no other meat. We eat cheese, but drink soy milk and use margarine in stead of butter. Strange I know, but its us. :o)

Dinner: 

Tomato Basil Salmon, Mashed Potatoes, Corn and Peas, Challah, Fruit Cobbler with Ice cream

Breakfast:

Salmon cakes, Corn bread, Fruit

Lunch:

Vegetarian Soup, Challah, Fruit salad (kiwi and apple)

Snack:

Vegan Brownies or oatmeal cookies (I'm not sure which yet)

We usually eat dinners late so if anyone is hungry after Havdalah then I'll cook something quick.

Shabbat Shalom!

100th Post!

I can't believe I'm already at 100 posts!!! 

This blog started out as a place for me to work out my thoughts and document my growth. I had no idea that a year ago I would be in the place that I am. Many things have changed and I've grown so much closer YHVH. I was thinking and thinking what should I write about for this post when I opened up my Bible to Psalm 37. I NEEDED to read that today. I'm in the beginning of my journey. I have not arrived and everyday is a struggle. 

We believe my place is at home with our children. But doing so is different from how I was raised. I struggle with it. But this is what Adonai has led us to do. Submission, although I am willing, is difficult. Letting go of the idea that I am in control of my own life has been difficult. But I have chosen to delight myself in Adonai. His ways are not my ways. He has promised to give the desires of my heart. But I think that means when I truly delight in Him then my heart's desires will line up with His. I long for that. 

He says to rest in Him, to wait on Him. I am probably the most impatient person in the world. But still I wait. I trust Adonai. I trust that all that He says will come to pass and that loving Him and following His commands is the best thing. Not the easiest thing, but the best. 

Dressing modestly is hard. Not because I want to attract attention. But because its not easy to be set apart. To stand out from the crowd. When I go places in my long skirt and headcovering I know people wonder what's my story. My own family has a hard time adjusting. But I believe that this is what Adonai wants of me. I don't go around looking for ways to be different. He calls me to it. Before we (hubby and I) decided I should cover full time out of the home, I remember reading different passages during my normal Bible reading that alluded to a headcovering. I would show my husband and ask if he saw it too. I needed reassurance I wasn't cracking up. That indeed I was coming across these things, "randomly". Of course nothing is random Yah knows what He is doing. 

Although this road is not easy, having an Abba that gives encouragement right when you need it makes it possible. Today mine came in the form of Psalm 37. 

Psalm 37

 ¹Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

 ²For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

 ³Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

 ⁴Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

 ⁵Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

 ⁶And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

 ⁷Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

 ⁸Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

 ⁹For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

 ¹⁰For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

 ¹¹But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

 ¹²The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

 ¹³The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

 ¹⁴The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

 ¹⁵Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

 ¹⁶A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

 ¹⁷For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

 ¹⁸The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

 ¹⁹They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

 ²⁰But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

 ²¹The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

 ²²For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

 ²³The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

 ²⁴Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

 ²⁵I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

 ²⁶He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

 ²⁷Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

 ²⁸For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

 ²⁹The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

 ³⁰The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

 ³¹The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

 ³²The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

 ³³The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

 ³⁴Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

 ³⁵I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

 ³⁶Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

 ³⁷Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

 ³⁸But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

 ³⁹But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

 ⁴⁰And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Spring

IT'S SPRING! YAY! I love spring (and fall) it's not too hot and not too cold. Everything feels just right! This spring its even more exciting because we're gearing up to celebrate the spring feasts! So I've decided to start a series called "Spring Has Sprung!" to highlight what we're doing around here for Spring. 

The First thing I'm supper excited to share is my indoor "garden" It's very small right now because this is our test run. I've never really grown anything but hubby and I think it would be really cool to grow our own food. Hopefully one day we will have tons of space to do so but right now we have to start small. Really small lol 

The small plant is strawberries and the larger one is tomatoes! :o)

Another project that hubby is working on is our bathroom. The tile floor was really a mess and needs to be replaced. But since we rent instead of doing all that hubs had a brilliant idea to make our bathroom BEAUTIFUL. I still need to find new curtains and such so when I do that I will update with the whole bathroom. 

Before

After

This really is a great time of year! A time of renewal and fresh starts! Are you doing anything special for spring? 

A Mezuzah!

This is not our Mezuzah but I thought this one was pretty :o)

Baruch HaShem we finally got a mezuzah! I'm so excited about this. We've lived in our apartment together for 7 months, hubby lived here for three months before we got married, and we didn't have a mezuzah! But we recently renewed our lease and got a mezuzah; perfect timing! It feels so good to be keeping another commandment! Adonai didn't give us His commandments so we could ignore them.

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: ⁵And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. ⁶And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: ⁷And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. ⁸And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. ⁹And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. -Deut 6:4-9 

¹³And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹⁴That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. ¹⁵And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. ¹⁶Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; ¹⁷And then the LORD's wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you. ¹⁸Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. ¹⁹And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. ²⁰And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: ²¹That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. -Deut 11:13-21

Preparation Day!

Our God is an AWESOME GOD! I want to share this video with you all. This is so unbelievably interesting! YHVH speaks to us in ways that we can't even yet comprehend. In this video Mark Blitz explains a message that is hidden within the Hebrew text of Proverbs 30:4-7. This is just so amazing to me! 

Mark Biltz Q & A Yeshua in Old Testament

"But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul." Deut 4:29

Shabbat Shalom!