"Life Goes On" - Friendship

 The following are poems on friendship I have collected since I was young, 
from my "Life Goes On" book. 

"No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth."  Robert Southey

Endless Word

I know a word

That has no end

Some call it love

I call it friend.

"Some people come into out lives and quickly go.

Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our heart

and we are never, ever the same."

FRIENDS (song)

Words: Deborah D. Smith
Music: Michael W. Smith

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of youth
Can't believe the hopes He's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show

But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

Chorus



"Make new friends,
But keep the old ones,
One is silver 
And the other gold." 

I am so thankful for all the poeple God has placed in my life through the years and the new ones He is bringing, and the future ones I know nothing about!  We all influence eachother, sometimes in a 5 minute meeting, sometimes in a friendship that has been built through the years.    We are sometimes separated by distance, circumstances, or death - but for me I will always love, appreciate and be praying for you!  

The greatest of these is love = 1 Corinthians 13

Once upon a baby doll....

This baby doll was given to me at about my 5 or 6 birthday from my Grandpa and Grandma Nelson. I can still remember being in their living room and opening it. It came nestled in a pink checked cardboard cradle with a pink blanket. I still have the blanket, but not the cardboard part!  She is the one baby doll I loved and cherished and helped me to dream about the day I would be a mom  :-)
The fun part now, is that my girls love to play with her, as do friends kids. They have been given other dolls, but this is the one they always love and play with. She is well loved!

It brings back good memories and also makes me laugh, since now we have six beautiful children and another on the way!  God does have a sense of humor!  I used to mock and laugh at our neighbors that had TEN children - TEN can you believe it! - after all I came from a family with three kids, much more "normal".  HA!  See God does have a sense of humor  ;-) (Do you think we'll be blessed with 10?)

  When I was little I always wanted to be a wife and mother.  I didn't always feel as though that was supported as a child. When people ask "what do you want to be when you grow up?"- responding with a wife and mom gets furrowed eye brows, or "that's cute, but what JOB do you want to do."
I hope my girls  and other young women I know, feel encouraged that if that is where their heart is drawn, that they are not frowned upon.  We are all born to do and be different things in this life, and being a wife and mom is a privilege and honor - not always easy - rewarding and heart wrenching all wrapped up in one!

I believe all women are born with a mothering heart, so if you're not married, or don't have children, find someone to love, nurture and encourage - it's part of who you are.  If you have  little ones, smile at them, play a game, truly take some time to ENJOY them without being distracted by the to do list. Be truly present.

This baby doll makes me smile and remember my past, and she makes me smile at the future. God willing she'll be my grandchildren's favorite doll as well!

National Friend Day

My calendar says today is National Friend Day.  I have been so incredibly blessed with amazing friends - old and new ones.  Time goes way to quickly, things can change in an instant, and I don't ever want to take any of them for granted.  I love you all!  I rather enjoy the way facebook lets me stay in touch with loved ones near and far.  I am finally going through the last two boxes of paperwork I had and organizing them.  Coming across all kinds of goodies!  Wanted to share this - a friend in AK - who helped get Christopher and I together -gave this to me.  I like it!

"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow

Don't walk behind me, I may not lead

Just walk beside me and be my friend."

Albert Camus

Butterhorn Rolls

My friend gave me this recipe several years ago and it's such a treat.  Am writing the original, but I usually do have white and half whole wheat.  One day I may try all whole wheat!

2 1/4 tsp yeast or one package dissolved in 2 T. warm water
Add 2 cups warm milk, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp salt, and 3 cups flour.  Beat until smooth.
Beat in 3/4 cup melted butter and 3 more cups flour.

Place in greased bowl in fridge overnight. ( Or do it first thing in the morning to bake for supper).
Punch down and divide in half.  Roll each half into 12" circle.  Cut each circle into 12 pie shaped wedges (pizza cutter works great!).  Roll to make crescent rolls.  Let rise until doubled. Bake 350 for 15-20 minutes.  YUM!

A Rose Bud

A friend sent the email to me and I had never seen it before.  Such a great reminder for every person God puts in our path.  As a mother it makes me think of my children, and how each is unique and special   :-)

ROSE BUD

                                                   author unknown

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day.  Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice.
The older preacher walked up to a rose bush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact.
It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do.
Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...

It is only a tiny rosebud
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petal
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
Then in my hands they die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I'll trust in Him for leading
Each moment of my day.

I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

One Day at a Time

 I know I haven't blogged much, or any at all!  I think of it, but never sit down to do it. I truly enjoy the blogs I do follow and am continually influenced and shaped by people in all parts of the country and Canada, too.  We have been so incredibly blessed in the place that God has put us.  During the two years of trying to sell our house and waiting on God's timing, none of us could have imagined the blessings He has for us.  We have acreage ( so great!), a house that is  wonderful for our family, with even the things I "wanted".  We are close to some of our closest friends, and I have friends that are willing to come "all" the way out here to see us and fellowship.   Another  blessing, are the great people we are meeting.   It reminds me of a poem I wrote down when I was in highschool

                "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other gold."

 I have met several other families that homeschool, natural eating and health, etc.  We have fantastic neighbors to the north and south.  They have truly taken us in, and love our kids.  On the south, we have gotten to enjoy learning about farm work and animals, blackberry picking, rope making, and so much more.  To the north, we are being blessed with music and fellowship.  They have blessed our kids with instruments and willing to take the time to encourage them.  Through them we have met more loving, and amazing people. One of the couples that we met performed this song.  It was beautiful and I can relate.  Sometimes I get overwhelmed and bogged down by the day to day grind, and all I have out on my "plate" in the future.  I so want to have His joy and peace, especially joy that overflows to my family. 

Marijohn Wilkins
One Day At A Time lyrics

I'm only human, I'm just a woman,
Help me believe in what I could be,
And all that I am.
Show me the stairway, I have to climb,
Lord for my sake, help me to take.
One day at a time.

Chorus:
One day at a time sweet Jesus,
That's all I'm asking from You.
Just give me the strength to do ev'ryday,
What I have to do.
Yester day's gone sweet Jesus,
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way,
One day at a time.


Do you remember when you walked among men?
Well, Jesus you know if you're looking below
It's worse now than then.
Pushin' and shovin', crowding my mind.
So for my sake, teach me to take,
One day at a time.

 

 

 

And because I always love "life stories" - here is a glimpse of why she wrote the song!     http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/devotions/terry_one_day.aspx

I haven't blogged much, because quite frankly it's crazy busy around here!  I have several big sewing projects I'm working on, and trying to get a head on normal work, but I seem to always be on a hamster wheel. 

Our garden is producing and I have canned 14 quarts of pickles, 7 quarts of beans,  and few other items.  We also got two boxes of peaches and canned those -21 quarts. It's been rather fun to get back to my "roots", as living out here is so similar to how I was raised in WI. It also has given me greater appreciation for all the hard work my Mom did. I remember helping her cut veggies, wash, and prepare but not much of the canning process itself. Then this morning, I thought, I have to carry these all downstairs now!  I don't remember helping her do that at all.  I don't remember her complaining about the work, and she still doesn't.  A great example for me.

We have also been blessed with great neighbors and new friends that are giving us their extra produce.  I just ordered  a pressure canner, Made in the USA, even Wisconsin at that! Yeah!!!

Another interesting thing from being out here is the money we have been saving on groceries. Since, we aren't right in the city to go grab whatever we want when we have the urge, you end up doing with what you have!