I'll tell the world...

This picture may look a little strange. 

The snap of camera lens was slightly later than I wanted it to be, but still... it got the look on his face.

Do you see it?

Do you see that grin?

Even if you don't, it is there...

And one other thing that you probably don't see is a little girl. The little girl is hurrying back to her car where Moma waits on her.

This is what happened.

My family and I are Christ followers. We believe in Jesus, the Bible, God the Father, The Holy Spirit, we believe. We also believe that it is important to share our faith with others. 

My husband is great at this. He lets everyone know that Jesus loves them. He loves the opportunity to share the love of God with others. 

The Bible tells us to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel..." Mark 16:15

For me and my family our 'world' is here, in our hometown. 

Many don't know, many are deceived, and many are lost without the hope that Christ brings.

This is what brings me back to the photo above and our little story. 

A couple of days before Christmas, we were going to do our LAST 'last minute' preparations for Christmas. My children watched my husband write around 30 handwritten cards for his fellow workers and share his heart with each and every one. It wasn't a generic greeting, he encouraged each one specifically to who they were and spoke of our Savior. I helped him wrap up a small gift to give each one of them along with his note, and we took them to him to distribute at work.

My little dumplin, she took this all in, and she took it to heart. I saw her frantically looking all over the house. "Don't we have a Bible around here that we don't use any more?" 

I looked at her a bit blank and said, "What???"

She said, "Never mind" and went back to searching...

All around the house she went as I was finishing up some things so we could head out the door.

Finally she came to me.

"Moma, I've written a note. I want to give it to someone at Walmart, do you know anyones name there?"

I was unsure of what she was wanting and asked her to explain a bit more...

"I wrote a note, like Daddy. I want to tell people about Jesus and how much He loves them. I want them to know how they can have a very happy Christmas. I want them to know Jesus too. I just don't know their name..."

My heart, a big pile of mush sat there as she poured her little heart into that letter that she read to me. I've witnessed her writings before, but this was different, this was grand and beautiful and it pierced my heart.  This little one had a burden for the lost. She knew how much we needed to share the love of Jesus with others and this was a way of her doing just that. 

As we walked around Walmart finishing up those last few things she shifted that note in her pocket and looked around frantically, trying to find just the right person. Then we finished and we walked out. She still had the note in her pocket and she was on the verge of tears. 

"Carlie, what's wrong?"

"I didn't give the note to anyone, Moma"

"Don't cry, we are still here, we can find someone to give the note to... do you see anyone you would like to give it to?"

She raised her head and a nervous smile came across her face.

"Yes! Will you wait on me?"

I watched with pride and with brokenness as my 9 year old shared her love of our Lord with that man. I watched as he smiled when she gave it to him... not knowing what he might think or how he might react. We are not responsible for the outcome... that is all up to God. We are just responsible to act. To go. To share. 

My little girl taught me a valuable lesson. One that I hope I never forget. There are ways to share His love, every. single. day... We just have to do it.

And for this sad, and desperate world, we need to do it today.

May God bless you today and throughout the coming new year.

Instagrammin...

Just a little video that shows some of the highlights of 2013 through my instagram. Are you on instagram? My username is homesteadmoma... drop by and say hi!
Have a great day!

Christmas Biscotti

I was thumbing through a magazine last night, a gift from a dear friend and found a recipe for biscotti. It sparked a memory... I had told myself that I wanted to make some biscotti for my husband. Knowing him and knowing his likes and dislikes, I KNEW he would enjoy this treat. 

I read over the recipe and it was for a cherry and pistachio biscotti. I wanted to go another route. So I used chocolate with white chocolate chips. 

It is Christmas after all, AND my honey loves chocolate!!!

I had biscotti only one time before. It was at a party that, and let me tell you...

 I really liked the crunchy, not-so-sweet cookie!

So here's my adaptation to the biscotti and it turned out great.

 It is 'drying' on my Christmas tier tray for tomorrows festivities!

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 eggs

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

4 oz white chocolate chips or chunks

Cream butter and sugar til fluffy.

Add cocoa powder and baking powder, mix til throughly combined.

Add eggs and mix one at a time.

Add flour and stir til just incorporated.

Add white chocolate til combined.

Chill dough 10-20 minutes in fridge.

Shape into 2 logs and flatten slightly.

Bake at 375* for 20-25 min or until middles are set and toothpick comes out clean.

Let cool slightly.

Cut into finger size pieces.

You can put these back in the oven on a lower temp and bake them a bit longer or you can set them out overnight like I am and let them get a little crunch to them.

In the morning you can enjoy and then store them in an airtight container!

Enjoy!!!

December happenings...

December is here and already we are almost at the middle.

Some of the beauty of the month so far.

This morning we woke up to the most glorious frost. I had to slip on some shoes and walk outside to enjoy it and of course snap a few pictures. It was absolutely beautiful.

Like a winter wonderland of tiny icicles!

The reason we celebrate this holiday. This HOLY-day. 

One of my favorite ornaments on the tree.

A big pot of warm, creamy chicken noodle soup. I added some turmeric to give a bit more nourishment along with the bone broth, veggies, and cream. Yum!

A homemade ornament. I made several over Thanksgiving weekend to liken the big old fashioned colored light bulbs that I love so much!

My scrappy tree skirt and finally a few presents under the tree. Normally I am finished with Christmas presents by now... this year, not so much. My youngest was actually fretting a little. haha

A righty (me) teaching one of my lefties (Carlie) to crochet. She is finally getting it.

Yay!

A constant sight as of late.

With the colder weather, we have spent more time in cozy pjs and you can find my scholars doing our lessons here, there and everywhere. Couches, chairs, tables, floor... wherever is cozy...

A new scarf that I made for gifting. I really like it. I need to make me one.

A friend on facebook asked me to make a version of the Katniss Cowl. This is what I came up with... I like it a lot. The yarn is gorgeous and the stitch is beautiful.

Some of my favorite handmades from the past gracing our shelves again.

I love this time of year and I hope you are enjoying it too. 

Scrappy Tree Skirts

Last year I started seeing ideas floating around pinterest on making burlap tree skirts. I really liked the idea. I like burlap too, but I wanted more green and red. Not having a tree skirt that I really LOVED, I began playing around and came up with my version. 

I call it the Scrappy Tree Skirt. 

(I also have these for sale in my etsy shop!)

I love the layers of color and prints. It makes such a pretty statement under the tree.

Each one different from the last. 

My Christmas tree was not only my favorite thing to put out now. Pulling out our heirloom Christmas tree skirt is too!

May your day be Merry!

The blur of November...

November was an absolute blur around here... It was so incredibly busy, I can hardly believe it has already been and gone. 

These things happened in November.

I turned 38. Yay me.

Our Christmas tree made it's appearance.... early, just not as early as I would have liked. 

My children are still practicing piano, although their lessons have been cancelled til after the first of the year, their teacher has been very, very sick. We are praying for Mrs. Carroll. 

Our co-op had Thanksgiving together. It was completely wonderful. 

Friendship, babies, food, laughter... it was so great.

Crafting has become norm around here again. My kids are jumping in on the bandwagon. Abe crafted this hat out of leftover material that I used to make pajama pants. 

I had an order for stocking caps. 

I LOVE how they turned out!

The kraut that had been fermenting for a month is finally ready! 

Bring on the brats! YUM!

Playing hooky (a cute term for crocheting) is now pretty much a constant. Thankful for orders that are coming through from friends, family and my etsy... which is open again!

Hooray!

I look forward to TRYING to slow this month down a wee bit and savoring each and every moment. 

I'll be back here and there. Maybe not daily, but hopefully a couple times a week....

Enjoy this beautiful month friends!