Summer is here in Africa! For us, that means the start of a new school year, and that Grandma & Grandpa Hammett will soon be here in Africa! Joel started his 1st grade year, and Anna her Kindergarten year. They are both having a blast. Luke, however, isn’t too happy to be ‘left out’ of what big brother and sister are doing. 🙂
Alertness
Do you find yourself daydreaming as you skip down the road? Sometimes, do you think it’s hard to concentrate on your schoolwork, chores, or what someone else is talking to you about? Then this might be a character trait that you need to sit up and pay attention to!
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It’s Hard Being Dysfunctional
Unless you’re just way mature and ahead of the game, you, too, are dysfunctional. Now don’t get upset with me for calling you dysfunctional. I know you think that you’re different or the exception to the rule (or that I was just uniquely strange as a teenager). The word dysfunction simply means “unable to function normally as a result of disease or impairment.” The disease is sin and the impairment is immaturity; two things teens (and we all) suffer from.
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Who Am I?
Think about the days you spend as a single person. You work hard, have big dreams and desires, and often imagine your future life. It’s a time of “finding out who you are.” Many a single struggles in this area of not knowing who they are, or being OK with who they are. Perhaps it’s due to failures, complacency, unthankfulness, or discontentment. You can discover who you are and God’s perfect plan for your life.
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Thoughts on Thankfulness
I know it’s only October 1st, but believe it or not, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. In less than eight weeks from now, we’ll be gathering with family and friends around a carved turkey, and partaking of a yummy meal, and if you’re anything like me, scrambling at the last minute to use this wonderful holiday as a teaching opportunity! Why not take the whole autumn season to highlight thankfulness, rather than just reserve it for the last week of November?
He Seeks Me
In every turn of the day, I can sense Him there, waiting. Waiting for me. I busy myself, doing those things I know I should do. He stands off in the shadows, patient. I hurry to the next thing, anxious to move in and accomplish. He must sometimes sigh when I push Him off once again, deeming those other things more important.
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Be Prepared
In the early morning hours, I have a very special meeting planned. As the house is sleeping still, in the quiet of the morning, I meet with my God. He is a most Gracious Resident: always prepared to meet, and waiting for me to join Him.
When You Know
When you know that the path of life before you
Is secure – that you cannot lose your way.
That you hold in your hands the Holy Bible,
That with time or circumstance will never sway.
Crock Pot Beef Roast
Amy Hegedus would like to share this crock pot recipe with us. With little prep time, a simple beef roast with gravy, is ready to eat, after a long day of work. She was given this recipe by a friend many years ago and it has become a favorite. Amy and her husband Jim work together, and after a long drive home, they appreciate a meal that is ready to eat when they return. With a little creativity on your part, leftovers can easily be turned into soup, or frozen for later meals.
What’s In Your Medicine Cabinet?
With the onset of school and cooler weather, my mind turned to stocking our medicines for the winter. Unfortunately, we were blessed with our first bout of colds before I could replenish our stock! I’ve never liked using over-the-counter medications. They usually contain fake sugars, food coloring, and often only mask the symptoms instead of dealing with the illness. Aside from that, most medications have little to no effect on me, so I usually consider it a waste of time to take them. Others are overly sensitive to medications and experience adverse side effects. When you’re sick, it doesn’t help to give yourself extra problems!
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The 80/20 Principle
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for the Andersons, and the month of October is shaping up to be even more eventful with two out-of-state trips, two wedding cakes to decorate, and a multitude of birthdays and other special occasions. Being so busy has forced me to evaluate and prioritize and go over my to-do lists a few times, weeding out the unimportant and trying to stay focused on what tasks are most important. I’ve had to plan my grocery and shopping trips carefully around our busy schedule, which made me remember one of my man’s favorite principles…the 80/20. Read on for the details…
Contentment
This will be the last time I will be writing for this column in the Grace and Honor. Next month, I will go from being a Pastor’s wife to being a Missionary’s wife. There will be not only a change of title, and a change of location, but also a change of responsibilities and duties. I am not a person that likes change. Generally speaking, I find safety and security in things that stay the same. But over the years, the Lord has taught me that change is sometimes necessary. And through all the changes in my life, God has taught me that I can trust Him.
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…PLODDING and PRAYING…
Usually I try to keep my articles simple. Give me a topic and let me run with it (keeping me from rambling!). Not this time, though. The past few months seem to have been a jumble of wonderful times with family and friends as well as situations bearing some sorrows. The Lord, as is His nature, has been good in all these times and situations.
Michelle’s August Update
This has been a very busy month for us. More and more we are getting adapted to our new surroundings and ministry opportunities.
Donna’s Helpful Tips
This month, Donna Anger is sharing with us some of her helpful and frugal tips! Hopefully they will save you Two Cents!
Crumbly Blueberry Muffins
Fresh blueberries are still plentiful, so you may want to try this recipe, given to me by AnnMarie Toth. Though AnnMarie uses only fresh blueberries for this recipe, frozen can be substituted. Baking seems to be a skill, at which AnnMarie both enjoys and excels. She has been baking these little beauties for quite some time and her family raves about them. They are delectable!!! (That means “highly pleasing” in case you are wondering!) Go ahead, try them and “please” your family!
Choices
One of the greatest blessings afforded to we mortals in this life is that of choices. Like habits, however, they can become that which give us freedom or that which places us in imperceptible bondage at the beginning that progresses quickly to tangible chains encumbering our steps and therefore our very lives. Choices.
Close to Thee
Often we hear the excuses – lies really, shrouded in a cloak of assumed innocence. “If only I could know God’s will.” “I just don’t know what to do in this situation.”
The truth is that God will be as near and as close as you allow Him to be.