Homemade Graham Crackers

While Melaina was away today we decided to bake for her for a change. A lady brought these to our women's meeting last Friday and I was really impressed but decided to try them gluten/dairy free of course for Melaina who can no longer eat graham crackers.

Recipe:

1/2 c. cooking oil (I used coconut oil)
1/2 c. honey (I used raw, unfiltered)
2 t. vanilla
1/2 t. salt
3 1\2 c. pastry whole wheat flour (I used spelt flour which is technically a gluten but very easy to digest. It does not bother Melaina at all and can be substituted straight across for wheat flour. I'm pretty sure regular wheat flour would work just fine also.)
1 1\2 t. baking powder
2 t. cinnamon
1\2 c. milk (I used goat's milk and you actually couldn't taste it at all)

Mix liquids first except milk, then add dry ingredients alternately with milk. If dough is too sticky add more flour. It should be stiff enough to roll out on a floured surface without sticking. Roll out to 1/4" thick (The thinner they are the crunchier they get. My first batch was a little too think and tasted more like cookies then crackers but still very yummy). Cut in squares or with your favorite cutters. Prick with a fork to make holes and bake at 300 until edges are slightly brown (This was about 12 min. in my oven). Cool before removing from cookie tray.

Priorities

Colossians 3:1-2 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

I had a lot of time to spend in God's word while I was healing. He was showing me many things through that time but mostly about my priorities. When I wasn't reading I was listening to the bible or teaching Cd's and tapes that have been laying around my house for years. I didn't take for granted the time I did get to spend with my family because I had nothing to distract me as far as chores or homeschooling. Some days it was so quiet around here it was ear piercing and I would just ask the Lord, "What should I do now?". I got a vision of what it would be like if I set my mind on things above throughout my daily life. I was so overwhelmed with 4 children doing school this year and 3 toddlers under foot that I neglected what's most important. Reading God's word daily with my children and focusing on their character and heart. I told myself this was my husband's responsibility. Don't get me wrong, the laundry does need to get done, the house does need to be livable and somewhat sanitary, and if our children can't pass a state test we might have to answer to the authorities. But will these things matter when we get to heaven. Will I regret spending so much time trying to get things "Done"?

The most practical advice I've ever heard is this. "When your day isn't going as well as you planned and everything seems out of order and control, stop and do something different. Take your children to the park or for a walk. Put them in the bath to play. Something outside of the schedule to round everyone up and be able to keep smiling into their little hearts." My children won't remember if my house was clean on August 9, 2010, but if I focus on the things that are eternal today, it will matter "Forever".

The wisest advice I've had comes from a woman I admire. She raised 9 children, 8 boys and 1 girl. She said if she accomplished nothing else in a day she was in God's word every morning with her children. ALL of her children are serving the Lord. Her family shines brightly for Him in their own families. She not only affected her children but their spouses and children and children's children and so on. I'm up and moving around finally but not exactly back to normal. My body tells me when I've done enough and it's a good reminder of the things I learned while I was in bed. I'm still having to focus on what's important because I don't have much to give. My laundry is behind and my floors are disgusting but someday that won't matter. If I choose to fill my children's hearts with eternal things I won't regret it. If I choose to focus on what's not done around here, I could get back in the habit of daily trying to get everything done except what's really important.


This picture has nothing to do with it but I thought it was cute!

Slow Recovery

I wish I could say that I am fully content with my weaknesses but God is sure working on me this week. I've been stuck in bed. I had a new kind of cervical cerclage put in last Friday and the procedure is supposed to hold better but is a little more intense. I cooked meals ahead and froze them, cleaned everything in sight, did all the laundry, and planned out everyone's jobs and duties. I thought, "It'll be ok. I've done this 6 other times before." Well, the company that was supposed to have come and gone showed up the day I got home from the hospital and I thought okay, I've got frozen meals. My husband's work forced him back earlier then expected, my house fell apart, my pride was gone, and for 3 days I felt like I was in labor and was sure I was going to miscarry.

"And he has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness," Most glady, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

As I lay there I thought, I have got to go to the hospital and get checked out but I couldn't imagine even walking to the car because I could barely make it to the bathroom. I wanted peace. I wanted this doctor to tell me that my baby was ok.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:7

I began to pray, "God you can give me peace. I'm helpless and scared and I need your peace". The next thing I knew it was the morning. Peace had come in like a river and I slept through the night!!!! The next day my bleeding stopped. I have still had tremendous pain and contractions but the doctor continues to say, "If you're not bleeding I'm not concerned". God has shown both my husband and I that this baby is His will. He has a beautiful plan for our lives that we never thought we wanted and definitely don't deserve. God has shown us so clearly that He wants us to trust Him with everything. Our home, our finances, our every decision, our marriage, and yes, how many children He wants us to have. He's done such a work in our hearts this past week I'm overwhelmed. I've got a burden for the things of the Lord in my family so heavy while I lay in these 4 walls and all I've been able to do is pray. (Like that's not enough, huh) Without the focus of cooking, and laundry, and cleaning, and schooling, and all those things I'm too weak to do, I've learned to pray for my family like I never have before. For Christ's sake, when I'm weak, He is strongest in my life.

When people ask me "How do you do it with that many kids?" my answer has always been that God gives me what I need as I need it. My response used to mean that he gives me the strength and wisdom to take on more but how wrong I was. I can't do this. I am so weak and so fleshly. God has given me everything I need this week from amazing children who rise up and run the house to beautiful women of God, who have gone before me on this road, to care for my children and take care of the physical needs I can't meet right now.

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8

I truly desire to please the Lord and bring glory to Him as a wife and a mom. Nothing else really matters and I praise God for showing me so clearly this week and allowing this precious life inside of me to thrive through all of the trauma. I got a visit from my midwife yesterday and we got a good strong heartbeat. Praise the Lord. He truly is good to me.