Where Is Peace?

It was a very simple secret she found out: only this, that it was possible to obey God's command contained in these words, "Be careful for nothing, but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God"; and that, in obeying it, the result would inevitably be, according to the promise, that "the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Hannah Whittal Smith
The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life

From Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles Cowman

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

There is a vast difference between happiness and blessedness. Paul had imprisonments and pains, sacrifice and suffering up to the very limit; but in the midst of it all, he was blessed. All the beatitudes came into his heart and life in the midst of those very conditions.

Paganini, the great violinist, came out before his audience one day and made the discovery just as they ended their applause that there was something wrong with his violin. He looked at it a second and then saw that it was not his famous and valuable one.

He felt paralyzed for a moment, then turned to his audience and told them there had been some mistake and he did not have his own violin. He stepped back behind the curtain thinking that it was still where he had left it, but discovered that some one had stolen his and left that old second-hand one in its place. He remained back of the curtain a moment, then came out before his audience and said:

"Ladies and Gentlemen: I will show you that the music is not in the instrument, but in the soul." And he played as he had never played before; and out of that second-hand instrument, the music poured forth until the audience was enraptured with enthusiasm and the applause almost lifted the ceiling of the building, because the man had revealed to them that music was not in the machine but in his own soul.

It is your mission, tested and tried one, to walk out on the stage of this world and reveal to all earth and Heaven that the music is not in conditions, not in the things, not in externals, but the music of life is in your own soul.

If peace be in the heart,
The wildest winter storm is full of solemn beauty,
The midnight flash but shows the path of duty,
Each living creature tells some new and joyous story,
The very trees and stones all catch a ray of glory,
If peace be in the heart.

Charles Francis Richardson 

In the photo: The view from a window during January's blizzard. I can attest to the fact that "the wildest winter storm is full of solemn beauty." And I also know it is true in the unseen storms that we face!

To Fear or to Trust

The  f e a r  of the wicked, it shall come upon him: 

but the  d e s i r e  of the righteous shall be granted. 

Proverbs 10:24

A Prayer Request & A Birthday

My dad and brother are currently away in Fairbanks. They flew down for a men's retreat hosted by Bible Baptist Church. They had a wonderful time of fellowship and fun at the retreat and are attending to various things in town for their remainder of their stay. Among other things, doctor appointments for my dad. We originally thought it was a torn rotator cuff. We learned today that we were right. However, we never expected things to be this bad. My dad will need complete shoulder reconstruction. The doctor said there are five different serious problems with his shoulder:

• Two rotator cuffs severed
• Biceps tendon totally demolished (shredded)
• Calcium build-up on collar bone
• Spurs under bone joint
• Pillow under joint ruined by spurs

My poor daddy! =( We are in the midst of making plans for his surgery and the other details involved. If you think to, please keep my family in your prayers. It's not easy to work out these things when you live so far away from "civilization." Pray for my dad's surgery and his lengthy recovery (one year, the doctor said). Our Savior is still the Great Physician!

Now that I've depressed everyone (chuckle) I have some happy news to share. Today is my brother's birthday! My "little" Timmy is sixteen years old today. I'm having a hard time believing that. Where does time go? We had an early birthday celebration for my brother last week. Our good friend Bro. Van Sickle was in town for his two-week job shift so he was able to join us for my brother's "early birthday." We like to have him over for dinner once during his shift. It's always such a blessing to have company! When you're isolated, you soak up good fellowship like a dried out sponge. =) After a delicious meal of lasagna and Parmesan garlic breadsticks, we let my brother open his presents.

The happy birthday boy! =) Bro. Van Sickle is standing in the background.

My brother is a WWII history buff. He especially loves aviation (and wants to be a pilot). So, he's mighty pleased when he gets anything that has to do with WWII for his birthday.

Ocean Ripple Broiche Scarf

I knitted this scarf last winter for the purpose of selling it at the Christmas craft fair. As it ended up, no one bought it so it made a wonderful Christmas gift for a very dear lady named Mrs. Jensen. =) Except for the color, it is identical to the scarf I knitted for the previous year's craft fair (see it here). I used the Berlin Scarf pattern in broiche stitch from The Purl Bee, and I used one of my very favorite yarns, Lion Brand Homespun in "Seafoam." I have always loved the variety in the colors and sequences of Homespun. This color reminds me of rippling ocean waves (something I just can't wait to see in a few months, by the way!)

Bagels & Biscotti

I got my Saturday baking all caught up last week but I was itching to be in the kitchen today anyway. There are a dozen new recipes I've been wanting to experiment for a while, so I decided to work on a few today.

Whole wheat bagels. They've sounded like so much fun since I found a recipe a few months ago, and it was definitely fun. They turned out a bit on the tough side and are rather "rustic-looking," if you know what I mean. =) But they taste amazing and I can't wait to make them again. Hopefully with the next batch I'll be able to improve their their texture and appearance.

Cinnamon biscotti. Yum. Perfectly crunchy, only slightly sweet (due to my modifications), fragrant of delightful cassia... and out of this world dipped in a mug of hot coffee!

Peaceful Paths

H a p p y  is the man that findeth wisdom, 

and the man that getteth understanding. 

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 

Proverbs 3:13, 17

In the photo: A sidewalk and flower pot on the campus of Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City.

Librivox Audiobooks

Lately I have been listening to audiobooks from Librivox.org. My first delightful experience with the method of audible reading was listening to Louisa May Alcott's Under the Lilacs. Oh, what a cute little book! It is a wonderful story about Ben, Betty, Bab, and Miss Celia, among others. They learn important lessons about being a faithful friend and helping those in need -- and doing so generously. They face terrible hardships and losses but come smiling through. What fun times they have together; what heroic adventures! Any child would be delighted to listen to this wonderful book full of merriment and interesting happenings. More "grown up" people who enjoy the company and the tales of children (such as myself =) would equally enjoy the experience, I'm sure.

Upon my completion of Under the Lilacs, I was ready to moved on to a more thought-provoking genre. Last Friday I began A Journey to the Interior of the Earth by Jules Verne and finished it in less than a week. It's a very educating book; it's packed full of scientific talk. So much so that at times my mind often drifted away to more interesting contemplations while Dr. Lidenbrock and Axel discussed such matters. =) I have serious problems with the book, however. I wish I had known beforehand that Jules Verne took a very evolutionist viewpoint. In fact, the entire inspiration of the book is based on "Charles Lyell's Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man of 1863 (and probably also influenced by Lyell's earlier ground-breaking work Principles of Geology). By that time geologists had abandoned a literal biblical account of Earth's development and it was generally thought that the end of the last glacial period marked the first appearance of humanity..." (Source) What was even worse is that Verne actually took a theistic evolutionist view, which is the belief that God created matter and simply left it to evolve! Folks, it made me sick. I skipped great portions of many chapters. Therefore, I do not recommend A Journey to the Interior of the Earth.

Presently I am listening to a book with which I agree whole-heartedly, Beautiful Girlhood by Mabel Hale. What a treasure of a book! It was written in 1922 especially for teenage girls. It is so full of Biblical wisdom and timeless lessons. Every lady should read this book, old as well as young! I am no longer in my teens but I have learned so much from Mrs. Hale's wise, truthful words. Beautiful Girlhood is in the public domain, meaning it is no longer under copyright, so I have decided to undertake the privilege of sharing Mrs. Hale's book on my blog. I truly hope it will be a blessing to all of the ladies who visit my little home on the web. You can expect an appearance of the forward and preface shortly!

Thrifted: Crochet Afghan

Last summer, I was given some crocheted afghan pieces that a friend had bought at a yard sale for pennies. There was a good amount of needlework in three different styles and colors. Black with yellow and red which looked so awful, I pitched them. (chuckle) White with green and pale red; there's not quite enough pieces to make an afghan so I think I'll see how they go together as a pillow.

And lastly, as pictured, peach and purple. At first I was skeptical. The colors really didn't suit my taste. At least it would be a fun project, I thought. But once it started coming together, I couldn't believe how cute and cheerful it was! Just looking at it makes me smile.

In Memory of Duke

Yesterday we said goodbye to a good friend, our dear old Duke.

It happened so suddenly. He hadn't been eating well for a few weeks, and Saturday he just wasn't doing well at all. My sister went outside yesterday (Sunday) to feed him and a few minutes later came in crying. The end was approaching fast. My dad and brother went out to do what they could. I didn't have the heart to go out and see him suffering.

Poor Dukie! He was having a hard time breathing, and his mouth was shut tight. He was gasping for air. His back legs had no strength at all... he was just dragging himself around with his front legs, falling over, struggling.

I prayed, "Lord, if it's his time to go, please let him go quickly. Don't let him suffer for days."

At around two o'clock, Dad went to check on him once more. Dear old Duke was gone. There were many tears shed.

He had held on just long enough to say goodbye! What a faithful, sweet old boy he was. We will miss him so much.

Those eyes! How I'll miss seeing them shine.

Cozy Handwarmers

I knitted these fingerless mittens for myself about a year ago. I use them every morning during the cold months (which is just about seven months out of the year).

I plan to (eventually) share the pattern I developed for these fingerless mittens. I made mine with a long cuff (about four inches up my wrist) so they add some extra warmth and tuck under my sleeves better. The other end reaches my knuckles. You can't see in the pictures, but I cabled the tops -- just to make them pretty. =)

I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn to knit these, a wonderful blend of wool and acrylic. Wool-Ease is probably my favorite type of yarn! I've used it a lot. The colors I used for my handwarmers are cranberry, dark rose heather, and blush heather (aren't those lovely names?)

Some Through the Waters

We have really gone through some "watery" trials lately. =) It all started last month.

Our water heater gave up on us. It had given us trouble for some time. Whenever someone took a shower, we'd all keep an ear open for pounding on the wall. That was the signal to go push the button on the water heater. (chuckle) But then one day, it wouldn't start back up. (Oh, no!) So the menfolk tore the contraption apart. They worked on it for two days. It appeared that the old thing had truly given up the ghost, so we began shopping for a new water heater. But then my genius dad found out what the problem was. Now it's doing better now than it ever has! Praise God!

Our kitchen sink has a separate water heater, so we ladies were able to wash our hair in the meantime. Gracious, I never knew washing two and a half feet of hair could be such an exhausting undertaking. =D

Then, last Tuesday our water went out due to construction taking place on our street. By day three we were into a routine. It was just like the good old days. =) On Saturday we were able to get most of our laundry done at a friend's house and the local laundromat, and we all "imposed" upon some gracious friends who let us use their showers.

On the Street Where I Live

I mentioned a few days ago that our water was out. It's still out. Today is our fourth day without running water. We miss it but we're getting along just dandy. =) Our "training" from Ruby has certainly helped this week. We go through about one seven-gallon jug of water a day. We use the tiniest trickle to wash our hands, catching all the water in a large bowl, and we save as much dish water as we can, emptying it all into a large bucket. We use the used water to flush toilets. After two days we were finally able to flush the toilet  in the bathroom adjoining my sisters' and my room. That was a relief, as you ladies can surely imagine. (chuckle)

Thank the Lord, we were all able to get showers! We got in touch with two public school teachers who come to church and they so graciously offered us the use of their showers. The construction crew told my dad the water should be back on this evening. How I pray all goes as planned, because we've got a million chores and a mountain of laundry to do tomorrow! Aaaah!

Here are some pictures of the construction that's been going on just outside our house, seemingly all winter long. They've dug holes, filled them in, dug holes, filled them in. Maybe they just like playing in the dirt? =D

This saw machine is so LOUD. It rattles down the road at a turtle's pace!

Willing Hands

 She seeketh wool, and flax, 

and  w o r k e t h  w i l l i n g l y  with her hands. 

Proverbs 31:13

In the photo: A beautiful scene in the milliner's shop of the historic Boonesville settlement founded by Daniel Boone near Defiance, Missouri.

I'm Thankful the Water Is Out

For ten reasons.

We were prepared. We have two or three seven-gallon jugs filled up with water.

We've done this before. I am so spoiled, folks! When we lived in the village of Ruby, we were without running water for a year. How quickly one becomes accustomed to a life of ease. =D

I'm reminded not to take running water for granted. I mean, we live in a little village in Alaska! I need to realize that the fact we do have running water at all is an incredible provision. Thank You, Lord!

We were able to easily heat water to wash dishes.

The combined efforts of six hands to get those dishes sparkling and put away. Our time around the kitchen sink wasn't quite as light-hearted as usual -- no humming and whistling was heard -- but we managed to keep up a good spirit regardless.

I'll have some interesting stories to tell my children. Won't they be impressed with Mommy? =)

I just might have to do things like this on a regular basis someday. You just never know how or where the Lord might lead.

I should be able to get a shower tomorrow. (Please, please, PLEASE! Four days is just TOO much.)

Progress is being made in keeping up the maintenance of our village's water system. I'd much rather suffer just a day or two without water than weeks without water. Yes, indeed.

I find it is true! I can "in every thing give thanks"! You give me joy even when things don't go my way. Because life always happens the way You've planned.

86-95. Blessings abound!

Fashionably Puffed Sleeves

Anne took the dress and looked at it in reverent silence. Oh, how pretty it was -- a lovely soft brown gloria with all the gloss of silk; a skirt with dainty frills and shirrings; a waist elaborately pintucked in the most fashionable way, with a little ruffle of filmy lace at the neck. But the sleeves -- they were the crowning glory! Long elbow cuffs, and above them two beautiful puffs divided by rows of shirring and bows of brown-silk ribbon.

"I don't see how I'm going to eat breakfast," said Anne rapturously. "Breakfast seems so commonplace at such an exciting moment. I'd rather feast my eyes on that dress. I'm so glad that puffed sleeves are still fashionable. It did seem to me that I'd never get over it if they went out before I had a dress with them. I'd never have felt quite satisfied, you see."

Antique photographs are my thing. Last summer while shopping at an antique shop, I found a beautiful photograph of a lady from the 1930's (my guess). The sweet expression on her lovely face drew me to the picture, and I had to ask the price. Five dollars! I couldn't pass her up. So I bought her and took her home with me.

Household Cleaning 101

I love Saturdays. I love laying my head on my pillow after a long, busy day with a sense of satisfaction that comes from getting so much accomplished. Today everything within sight in the kitchen got scrubbed and scoured, and I finally got to those dusty, greasy light fixtures! Amazing how much brighter the kitchen is now. =)

I discovered a wonderful new "cleaning product" today. Have you ever noticed that, however hard you scrub at smudges on stainless steel appliances, they just won't come clean?! I don't know about you, but it drives me crazy. Somewhere recently, though, I read about polishing stainless steel appliances with olive oil, so today I tried it. Ta-da! I never saw anything so shiny. And it was completely effortless! Just thought I'd pass that tip along. (wink)

Allow me share a few other cleaning tips with you while I'm on the subject.

An orange is precious thing. It is not to be wasted. Not any of it!

Okay, so being produce-deprived has made me somewhat eccentric. (chuckle) However, there are incredible uses for orange peels like you wouldn't believe! 

A Trip Up the Beach, Part 5

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Birch bark! Evidently durable stuff to have survived a watery journey from a distant land. =)

Dad always takes a hand-held VHF radio whenever he's outside the village. Here he's standing on a dune trying to get a signal.

Prayer Is Limitless

Because God is infinite, the ways in which He answers prayer have no limit. We weak little humans are bound by set limits of knowledge and ability. There comes a time in every genius's life that he hits a brick wall. The strongest man in the world eventually slams into that same old brick wall, too. =)

However, if we are saved by the blood of the Crucified One, we have access to something and Someone that knows no limits. We can pray! We can ask God to do things that are  absolutely impossible. We can expect miracles -- great and mighty things that only God can do. God has promised that His ear is open to the humble, earnest cry of His people. He promises to answer our prayers, no matter the subject or size of those prayers.

Prayer is not limited by space. God sits upon His throne in Heaven and we dwell in Earth, but nothing can keep God from hearing our prayers. (Example: Jonah prayed from the belly of a whale, God heard him, and He answered!) We can pray for a loved one separated by thousands of miles and even oceans and we are able to directly affect their lives with our prayers. We can respond to the requests others make for their loved ones, and although we have never met those people, our prayers have a part in providing for their needs. Ladies, we can pray in full faith for our future husbands to be faithful to the Lord and to future vows, we can pray that God would defend them against the attacks of Satan, and we can pray that God will meet their many needs as live day by day.

Prayer is not limited by time. Because God dwells in eternity and sees the end from the beginning, and because He is not affected by time, He does not work according to our time-table but according to His all-wise purposes. And He is never late in answering our prayers. Prayer can receive an immediate answer, a delayed answer, or a prolonged answer: God knows which is best. When we are in a dangerous situation or we have pressing needs, we can pray and expect God to follow through. We may have other needs that seem endless; those are the times when we wonder if God is even listening: an unsaved loved one, a desire of the heart, etc. This is when we must pray persistently and not give up (read Luke 18:1-8). Then there is prolonged answers to prayer, such as our prayers for the work of God in lives, work that is truly dependent upon our prayers.

Prayer is not limited in subject matter. God did not give us a set list of prayers He would answer, nor did He specify certain matters that we could not bring to Him. God said, "Call unto me and I will answer thee." Call on Him for what? Praise God, He did not say! He wants us to bring anything and everything. He wants us to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:16)

Prayer is not limited in results. The Lord did not put limitations or conditions upon what and how He would answer our requests. He is a loving Heavenly Father and gives us what is best and what we need. (See Matthew 7:7-11 and James 1:17.) If we ask for a certain need, He will supply that certain need. He promised! He claims that when we call, He will do "great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." (Jer. 33:3) And many times, His answers to our feeble prayers are in ways that are "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20) God is not bound by laws of nature and is not in the least confounded by what we consider to be impossibilities. "For with God nothing shall be impossible." (Luke 1:37)

Every prayer God answers is a miracle. God has placed a limitless, boundless, all-things-are-possible tool in our weak human hands. Why don't we use it? Perhaps because we think only certain Christians have access to this kind of prayer? No, even a child can pray and receive great and mighty answers. Why do we fear that He will fail to hear or will refuse to answer? Because we fail Him and sin against Him and we feel unworthy? We are under the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. We are fully, forever pardoned and made righteous in His sight, and we are always welcome in His throne-room.

God is Almighty and He is good! Let's simply trust Him to do all He promised and get busy doing the real work we're responsible for!

In the photo: A tree, hay bales, and irises at Aunt Frances and Uncle Don's farm in Iowa.

A Greater Yes

The Lord is too wise to be mistaken, too faithful to disappoint,
and too good to be unkind.

It starts with a desire,
Planted deep within your heart.
You pray in faith, and wait for God to move.
But time passes and you wonder,
Did He hear me when I called?
Should I even have prayed that prayer at all?

You never pray a prayer
Your Father will not answer,
He can't ignore His child's earnest request.
While you're waiting and believing
For what you thought was best,
Trust God if He says no,
You're still blessed.
There must be a greater yes.

There comes a time when child-like faith
Must graduate to trust.
Trials come and you're convinced you're on your own.
But the Teacher's often silent
While you're in the hardest test,
But He'll answer when it's time with what is best.

You never pray a prayer
Your Father will not answer,
He can't ignore His child's earnest request.
While you're waiting and believing
For what you thought was best,
Trust God if He says no,
You're still blessed.
There must be a greater yes.

Sometimes God will answer just like we pray,
Then other times what's on His mind
Is a better plan, another way, a greater yes.

You never pray a prayer
Your Father will not answer,
He can't ignore His child's earnest request.
While you're waiting and believing
For what you thought was best,
Trust God if He says no,
You're still blessed.
There must be a greater yes.

Sung by Assurance of Heartland Baptist Bible College
Written by Marcia Henry 

In the photo: My grandma's flower garden (Iowa).

True Riches

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, 

and he addeth no sorrow with it. 

Proverbs 10:22

In the photo: Shooting star flowers in Grandma's garden.

A Trip Up the Beach, Part 4

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Off to continue exploring the tundra! We brought a bucket to use for picking berries but unfortunately there weren't many berries in the area.

A ducky couple