We have another family member who was interviewed for a new position today and will have their third interview on Wednesday. If this position is gained, it will open other doors in the future. However, we are not sure about the timing with the current economy.
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Another family member has been applying with other companies.
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We have asked the Lord to open or close the doors according to His will in each situation. Thank you to any who pray with us.
I can share it now that he has turned in his notice to his current employer.
Brandon has been hired by Honeywell!
They were impressed with his broad-ranged credentials and the multi-facility supervisory roles he has achieved at the age of 29. They said he interviewed extremely well and has expertise in the areas they want.
They gave him an incredible offer! It was one he could not refuse! They have more opportunities for him to advance in the areas he desires, so he is very excited!
While he was willing to sacrifice in pay to get to a company that will help him move further along in his career, he did not have to do that. They exceeded his current salary, gave him a car, phone, computer, vacation, and better benefits. The only thing he had to give up is seeing his Dad and sister now and then at work and his 8 1/2 year tenure.
Homeschooling led by God works! Don't let fear or naysayer's comments hold you back from walking where the Lord is leading! Our five oldest children have performed so well that they were put into leadership roles very quickly. Emily and Hannah are not of employment age.
Thank you to those who were praying with us! Thank you to those who are giving God thanks and rejoicing with us now!
There is a current trend to filter the Bible through the words of man when what we should be doing is filtering the words of man through
The Word of
The Most High.
Many authors and some pastors today are saying in a very subtle and deceiving manner that we are God or a part of God or like a god. "All you need is inside of you."
While it is true that we are created in his likeness, we are not omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent. We, the created, can not be the Creator. We have no power outside of Him. He is complete without us.
We are incomplete without Him.
We stand in need of a Savior.
There are those our family knows who believe they are part of the "god head" or the "inclusive trinity." They believe they have all kinds of power they can tap into and use for their own benefit.
They are adopting the lies of a mere man and giving them more importance than the Word of God. They are embracing false teaching and helping spread it.
What words/attitude had satan kicked out of Heaven? Do you really want to embrace teaching along those lines?
Walk carefully in this world.
Dear Reader, I care very much about the people our family knows who have embraced these beliefs. It grieves my heart deeply to see them turn from truth and embrace lies that echo the fallen one. Please join me in prayer for them. The Bible warns us to be sober and vigilant because there is a mighty predator prowling around waiting for an opportunity. He is a liar and a deceiver. He is cunning, manipulative, and very intelligent. If you are reading the words of a fallible man, my advice to you is to filter them carefully through the Word of God. My love to all!
The time will come when people will not listen to the true teaching. But people will find more and more teachers who please them. They will find teachers who say what they want to hear. People will stop listening to the truth. They will begin to follow the teaching in false stories. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
These are now present where I live. I know of two people who have had holes drilled into their gas cans and mower fuel lines.
Tammy,
I do not know why, but the Lord keeps putting you in my heart. I tried to contact you. I am praying for you and hope all is well. If you need someone,
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Romans 12:9 says to "Abhor what is evil" and "cleave to what is good".
Tim works under Clint. This is not the Tim who was severely injured and is in rehab. That person works with Clint but was under another boss. It is a different person. Tim has had cancer in the past. It has returned and is "all over" his body. His awaiting testing so they can find out what type and what course of action they are going to take. Please also pray for Tim's salvation. Thank you!
Please pray for my friend's husband. Mark has had long-term Lyme and coinfections. Things are very serious. He has a severe infection in a wound and has heart issues. They are talking about a PICC line and multiple trips to a far away clinic while at the same time, the family car has broken down. They are in another state, or our family would offer to work on the car. Thank you to all who pray for them.
I am on my usual late morning break.
Clint and I are home! We had a wonderful adventure that was both thrilling, relaxing, and very restorative. I so enjoyed the exhilarating 4WD-only roads, the beautiful scenery, the abundant wildlife, the exclusive access to trails we were given, the historical buildings we had the privilege of sleeping in for one night, the absolute quiet, the amazing view of the stars, the people we met, and so much more! We covered so many miles doing the overlanding. We came home both tired and rejuvenated! Both of us want to go again. We actually talked about taking another trip next weekend, but we decided to wait. We have a long trip planned in the fall with most of our family.
We were able to share the gospel with well over 200 people on this past trip! That was more than twice what we had hoped for before we left!! It is double what we did on the last trip.
Once we were where our phones could pick up a signal, our phones buzzed for several minutes straight! We are still in a vacation frame of mind. We will get back to everyone over the next few days.
We were in touch with our children every few days to check on home, but it was only for 10-15 minutes at a time.
One of us has big news! I will share soon.
Another one of us has an opportunity that may open up.
And, another one of us is seeking an opportunity!
I will be soon at our private vacation spot so Clint and I can do a little work there. I am also considering starting a couple of new projects. I am still bouncing around ideas about the timing. I enjoy being highly productive and trying new things, but I want to make sure I can manage adding more to my already full schedule.
Life is very exciting at the moment!
My love to all!
Walter had to have another surgery due to continuing episodes of his trachea collapsing and cardiac arrest. They did a three-in-one surgery like last time and have also put in an ND tube hoping it will stop the episodes. Please pray this gives him and his parents some relief.
Sarah is very weary and could use prayer. He pulled out his tube overnight. They are going to put in a new ND tube. The student nurse has not relayed Sarah's concerns correctly. The doctors are also trying to do procedures Sarah feels are unnecessary, so she is having to advocate hard for Walter during this stay. Please pray for her.
Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill.
living for self or in His will;
When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
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Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.
“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”" Luke 14:34-35
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. Matthew 5:13
Dear Reader, Being lukewarm is believing but showing indifference to what you believe. Showing indifference in what you believe is the worst of attitudes and comes with warnings. If your faith in Jesus has any value, it is worth everything to you. There is no room to believe in Jesus and be neutral in how you live. Salvation through Jesus is LIFE and ETERNITY CHANGING. Jesus wants people to declare themselves in earnest as either for him or against him. Hot or cold, not inbetween.
Note that both passages end with a stern warning and dire consequences: “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” and "no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." As ambassadors for Christ, we should be creating a thirst in other people for righteousness that comes from knowing Jesus.
Are you serving Him, yourself, or some idea? Which of those is your passion, gets you motivated? People often say they are serving Jesus through serving an agenda or another person's desires. That's a trap (distraction/diversion)! We are called to carry out His work which is spelled out in the Bible.
Paul was battling this very thing in Corinth. He was having to correct people in the Church who felt the only way to get others to believe in Christ was to use philosophy which he called the “enticing words of man’s wisdom" to which he replied, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:1–2.
Paul is saying that the core of his ministry was that Jesus was/is the Redeemer of the world. Nothing outside of Jesus can break the hold of sin and death. We don't need to dilute that message. Instead, we need to examine what we are putting out there to make sure we are sticking to the simpicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We do not need to mix anyone or any ideas with Jesus to make him worthy. Break free of "man's wisdom" and man's agendas and share the gospel of Christ!
My love to all!
The investigators found that people with Lyme disease had a greater risk of mental problems and suicide attempts. They also had a 42% higher incidence of depression and bipolar disorder, and a 75% higher rate of death by suicide, compared with people without Lyme disease. https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-08-17/lyme-disease-can-wreak-havoc-on-mental-health
-shared from a friend who is battling very hard
Please lift my friends who are battling Lyme Disease and the co-infections that are almost always present with it. I personally know of several people with this horrible but often medically unrecognized disease.
Happy Mother's Day
Update: Our trip plans are fluid because Clint's job is flexible. We have already added more time to our trip...and might add more. Brandon is watching over 2314. I also had the date wrong in the post below. It is the 20th we are due back, not the 10th. For those who are concerned about us being out of cell tower range, we have Clint's HAM radio with us. We also carry a first aid kit, trauma kit, food, water, multiple ways to start fire and purify water (if needed), etc. We like to get way out there and go for long hikes..and see what we can see!
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Brandon and Clint are on a roof doing the work for the family that I asked they do for my Mother's Day gift. They are installing 8 panels that will provide power for our pool pump and other things. We are supposed to also put one on our Suburban.
Then, tomorrow, we celebrate all day with the whole family and a meal together.
Soon after, I will be out of state with Clint until the 10th for a "kind of surprise but not*" overlanding adventure to an area I have never visited before.
The blog will have posts that were prescheduled, but I am not home. I also will not have a working cell phone or internet for much of this time. SO...
if I do not respond to a phone call, text, or etc, that is why. :-)
My love to all!
*He had to let me in on it so I could inventory and pack our gear. I also made a few new purchases for just in case.
So, I have something eating produce in a garden bed. I'm thinking it is a rat or a vole. I pulled out a trap.
Emily looked at it and said, "That thing can take your thumb off!"
She volunteered to bait it and set it for me.
She later came in and told me, "I can't figure out how to set it, (big sigh) AND (a pause and then continuing with lots of laughter) that thing will NOT take your thumb off!!"
She stuck up her sore thumb and walked out laughing at herself.
Dear Reader, I am so thankful for these joy-filled days of having the children I was told I shouldn't have. "After 35 is TOO OLD!!!" Don't listen to people. Earnestly seek the Lord and follow where He leads you without looking back. He brings us to good places!
Wendy, what ate my chickens? (It was accompanied by pictures)
From the hole size, I'd guess a skunk. What got the chickens is not the most important question to ask. How to make the coop stronger is what you need to know.
As you can see, the bricks around the outside of the pen were simply pushed aside. From there, it was an easy dig on soft soil to enter the coop.
What works for me is to have a woven wire bottom on the ground where the pen will go. That bottom extends some from the side of the pen. If I do not do that, I ring the outside of the pen with chicken wire folded in half. Half goes on the ground and half goes against the pen's wall going away from the pen. This way, if the predator runs up to the pen and begins to dig, it digs on the wire.
All of my pens for poultry also have woven wire fencing or chicken wire on the top. Not only do we livestock owners have to worry about ground attacks, but air raids from predator birds are a real threat.
I also keep a dog in a large run near my poultry. This has been very, very effective. I'd say it was one of the best things I have done with our livestock.
For the pens that border our wooded areas, I use predator lights that mimic predator eyes and motion solar lights.
I also ask my menfolk to urinate around the pen. The smell does seem to be a deterrent. When I have employed this technique where I have had multiple strikes, the losses stopped. We are blessed that no one is close by and our men can do this. Friends have their men urinate in a bucket and they pour that around. Eons ago, I read it was the testosterone in the male urine that makes the predator go away. In other words, the predator knows the human has laid claim to and will defend the area because of the scent marking.
Every once in a while, something still gets taken by a predator. Our geese free-range and we have goslings waddling about the acres. One was taken recently. I saw a very large fox in the driveway, so I believe it is the culprit. Something also struck the outdoor aviary and took a few parakeets. It had to have been something fairly small like a young weasel. The only entry point I saw was a very small area at the corner of the door. To give you an idea, the manufacturer made a square opening for a rounded door. I will be working to tighten up that pen this week.
I believe we should live with nature as much as we can, but I also believe in dealing with problem animals. My livestock count on me taking responsibility for their safety. The predator is working against that. Generally, I will ignore one gosling being taken, but if it becomes a problem, I start setting traps. Anytime I have something taken by a predator, I alert my neighbors so they can watch out for their livestock also. They appreciate it and often offer to help out.
I saw this tree foaming, so I had to find out why...
Please pray for T. who has stage 3 lung cancer. Please pray also for his salvation. I will share his name and more details later.
Cooking oil rationing is happening in other countries. Supplies of cooking oils are very low in my area at the moment. The shelves are about 25-33% stocked of what is normal and that is after they reduced the shelving space to hold less. Prices have skyrocketed. Tips:
Use a little less of what you have to make it last longer.
Learn the substitutes for oils. for example, I have been using fruit purees in cake mixes since the 90s. Applesauce is an example of a fruit puree that can be substituted for oil.
Research the health benefits of and learn how to render these fats: schmaltz, lard, tallow. You may already have invested money in and are throwing away replacements for cooking oils. I have found that I can use quite a bit less and still have a nice finished product in most dishes.
My generation was been taught that fats are bad and that we should avoid them. However, fats are very important for health. The stick margarine that was pushed as "healthier" in the 70s is detrimental to heart health in more than one way. I also think that time period's advice on fats has something to do with the rising cases of Alzheimer's and dementia. I'd rather use something that comes to us naturally.
My favorite fat to render is lard from our pasture raised hogs.
There will be a lot of people who will tell you that you can't keep tallow or lard on a shelf or that you can't keep it on a shelf for longer than xx amount of time. When I have cared to ask, most naysayers on whatever they are talking about have not even tried the thing they are saying can't be done. So, I don't give most of that advice much attention. I just go ahead an try it.
Tallow and lard, rendered properly, are shelf stable. I have lard that is a couple years old on my pantry shelf that still looks, smells, and tastes as fresh as when I put it in the canning jar. Your nose will tell you very quickly if it is spoiled. It will smell chemically. Mold is also a sign it had gone bad. If the taste is sour, it's bad.
I pour the hot tallow or lard into the canning jars via funnel and cap them after they cool. Waiting until they have cooled prevents condensation that can cause mold. I fill them to within 1/2 inch of the top before I move to the next jar.
Schmaltz needs to be refrigerated or frozen. Schmaltz is made from the yellow fat layer that forms on top of the gelatin like layer. Once we cook chicken, we strain the juices into a wide bowl and put it into the fridge until it solidifies. We separate it with a spatula and make the schmaltz. I use the gelatin like layer to flavor soups.
If you do have fat that goes bad, especially the tallow or lard, remember there are other uses for it like lubrication, candles, etc.
Dear Reader, I learned a lot of what I know from reading books from authors other times and other cultures. These people survived or are surviving just fine without modern conveniences like refrigeration. They often possess a wealth of knowledge for anyone who cares to learn. My love to all!
“I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, and heaven without hell.” William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army (1829-1912)
Here is my answer:
natural antifungals: garlic, oregano oil, turmeric, olive leaf extract, coconut oil (caprylic acid), goldenseal, barberry, onions, black walnut, tea tree oil, cloves, etc. Neem oil is used internally and externally in some countries, but it is not common in the US.
Dear Reader, I encourage you to thoroughly research each and also research and consider contraindications (other medications or health concerns that may cause harm if taken with a specific herb). Learn the difference between maintenance dosages (daily) and therapeutic (healing) dosages. Therapeutic dosages can be much higher than maintenance dosages. What you see on most labels are low maintenance or maintenance dosages. They want to keep their liability down because most people will not do the underlined part in this paragraph.
Update: I forgot about honey!! Raw honey is also a strong antifungal. It is also a good antibacterial. This is because it contains naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide.
https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/gloucester/gloucester-7-eleven-clerk-arrested-accused-of-assaulting-customer-with-baseball-bat-over-gaming-machine-winnings/ copy and paste
Teresa is a person our family has known for 27 years. She is one of the first people we met when we moved in 1995. She has always treated us well and is a kind and generous person. She loved on our babies and still looks out for them today, especially Joshua who gets coffee from where she worked.
Teresa has had a hard life. She's a fighter. While I am not claiming she is perfect, there is a lot to admire about her and how she conducts herself. In spite of the obstacles in her way, she worked two and three jobs to give her daughter "a better life " by putting her through college.
When her daughter was married, her new husband offered to pay off the college debt. Teresa said "No, thank you. This is the one thing I am going to give my daughter. I want her life to be better than mine, and I am going to be the one to give her this." She would give us updates on how much progress she had made on the college loans. We would see her after she had worked 8 hours at one employer and was finishing up four hours at the other. As exhausted as she was, she was always polite and very friendly.
After seeing the news, I contacted Teresa's daughter to see if there was anything our family could do to help. Teresa's daughter says this story is not being represented fairly by the media. Based on what I know about Teresa, I believe her.
It would be very out of character for Teresa to behave like this without provocation. Dozens of other people have said the same as they came to her defense on social media. She has an overwhelming amount of support. There has to be more to this story.
Pay attention to the fact that the police were called and when and why.
Our family has reached out to Teresa and offered to write a letter regarding her character.
Since I was not there, I do not know what happened. BUT, I know this story is not adding up to what is being put out by the media. Scores of people are standing up for Teresa. Teresa had to have felt threatened to have hit a person. I strongly suspect she was defending herself. I could be wrong, but until I see proof otherwise, that is what I believe.
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For BOTH parties, we are truly sorry this horrible thing has happened. May the Lord make the truth known, and may His mercy rule over both parties.
I keep getting this question, so I am sharing my answer here:
"I very rarely see one. I think it is because I use hydrogen peroxide when I water. I use a few tablespoons per gallon. If he has a problem he may want to go as strong as one half to one cup of peroxide to four cups of water depending on the severity. They also like moisture so I don't leave any standing water under my plants. After I water them, I wait an hour and then drain all of the extra liquid off. I give the plants an hour to drink all that they need and for the soil to get fully saturated. Whatever I pour off goes into the pots outside*. I try to use quality bagged soil when I plant in the house because eggs can be carried from the soil. Diluted neem oil will kill them too. When you are trying to kill them with the hydrogen peroxide or the neem, you want to really water them thoroughly so that every part of the soil and underneath the pots gets covered."
*is so the fertilizer does not get wasted
My love to all! :-)
We’re living in strange days, are we not? When I see what's happening to this world, if I didn't know the Lord Jesus Christ, I’m not sure what I would do. Yet, knowing the Bible and Bible prophecy, when I see all these things coming to pass, they do not shake me. Sometimes they grieve me, sometimes they sadden me, but they do not shake me. That’s because I know God's Word. I know they’re a fulfillment of prophecy. I can say with all the saints, “Praise God, it's getting gloriously dark.”
The book of Revelation is known as “the blessing book” because it’s the only book out of the 66 books in the Bible that promises in chapter 1, verse 3, a blessing to those who study it.
Our hope is not found in studying science books. There’s no eternal blessing in books of politics or sociology. Friend, the blessing is in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, as revealed in the book, the Bible—the Word of God, the Book of the Ages.
But how are you going to know this? You've got to know prophecy. God gave us the book of Revelation to show us the “things which must shortly come to pass” (Rev. 1:1). You're not supposed to be in the dark. You're to be informed. You are to know, so “that day will not overtake you as a thief” (1 Thess. 5:4). -Adrian Rogers
Dear Reader, Today is one of my days to get a little time with the Lord. I have been doing this since I was a young wife (before children). I had no solid Christian role models around me, so I would ask the Lord questions and open my Bible for the answers. He never failed me in supplying the answers. I still have the Bible I used while doing those studies with the notes and dates in the margins. My daughters love to take it to their rooms and read it now. I so love where He has led me in this journey of life.
This is from one of the many videos I have watched so far today. A lot of my friends and some of my family have been sharing how they are struggling with fear and anxiety, so I thought I would take a break and share it now. I found it very comforting and hope you will also.
Above all, love each other deeply - fervently - sincerely - intensely - constantly, because love covers over a multitude of sins - offenses - faults (missing the mark). (1 Peter 4:8)
This really made Hannah jump! You don't need to tell scary stories when the fog rolls in...and someone left a cairn nearby. 
