Sand and Stone

Author Unknown.
A story tells that two friends were walking through
the desert. During some point of the journey, they
had an argument, and one friend slapped the other
one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt,
but without saying anything, he wrote in the sand:

Today my best friend slapped me in the face.

They kept on walking, until they found an oasis,
where they decided to take a bath. The one who had
been slapped got stuck in the mire and started
drowning, but his friend saved him. After he
recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:

Today my best friend saved my life.

The friend, who had slapped and saved his best
friend, asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in
the sand, and now, you write on a stone, why?
"The other friend replied: "When someone hurts us,
we should write it down in sand, where the winds of
forgiveness can erase it away, but when someone
does something good for us, we must engrave it in
stone where no wind can ever erase it.

Learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve
your blessings in stone.-- Unknown

Saying goodbye to a homeschool hero

A true hero for the homeschooling cause, as well as, a hero in the Christian community has passed. His name is Chris Klicka. Please take a moment to pray for his family as they grieve the loss of this great man. If you feel lead you can follow the link and read about his passing but bring your tissue as his wife tells about his final moments with them.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisklicka/journal

Carri

Another Yummy Recipe

TOFFEE COOKIES

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cover a rimmed cookie sheet with foil and oil foil. Line evenly with saltine crackers (roughly 45?). In a large saucepan, melt 1 cup butter and 1 cup brown sugar and bring to a boil (over medium heat). Boil for 3 minutes, (my gas stove only takes about 2 minutes - mixture will almost start to pull away from sides of pan) stirring constantly. Immediately pour mixture evenly over crackers. Put in oven for 5 minutes. Remove, tap down floating crackers and immediately sprinkle a bag (or 2 cups) of chocolate chips over top, let melt and then spread across top. You can also sprinkle chopped walnuts on top if you like. Chill to let it set up. Cut up however you wish, or break into pieces.

These cookies are amazing. The children and I were able to whip these up in just a few minutes and they are soooooo good. I lost the link to the blog were I got it but if I come up with it I will post that as well.

Blessings,

Carri

A Housewife’s Love Chapter – 1 Corinthians 13

If I keep my house immaculately clean, and am envied by all for my interior decorating, but do not show love in my family – I am just another housewife.

If I'm always producing lovely things – sewing, art; if I always look attractive, and speak intelligently, but am not loving to my family – I am nothing.

If I'm busy in community affairs, teach Sunday School, drive the carpool, but fail to give adequate love to my family – I gain nothing.

Love changes diapers, cleans up messes, and ties shoes – over and over again.

Love is kind, though tired and frazzled.

Love doesn't envy another wife – one whose children are "spaced" better, or in school so she has time to pursue her own interests.

Love doesn't try to impress others with my abilities or knowledge as a mother.

Love doesn't scream at the kids.

Love doesn't feel cheated because I didn't get to do what I wanted to do today – sew, read, soak in a hot tub.

Love doesn't lose my temper easily.

Love doesn't assume that my children are being naughty just because their noise level is irritating.

Love doesn't rejoice when other people's children misbehave and make mine look good.

Love is genuinely happy when others are honored by their children.

May the Lord help us to love one another completely and self-lessly, as He has loved us first

As I read this today it brought me such conviction I just had to share it. This orginally came from "A Mother's Heart" by Jean Fleming then it was forwarded to a group I belong too.

Be Blessed,

Carri

Butternut Squash Soup

This soup was just yummy. We have a bunch of butternut squash from our garden and this is the first thing I tried to make with it and it was really good.




INGREDIENTS
6 tablespoons chopped onion
4 tablespoons margarine
6 cups peeled and cubed butternut squash
3 cups water
4 cubes chicken bouillon
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large saucepan, saute onions in margarine until tender. Add squash, water, bouillon, marjoram, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Bring to boil; cook 20 minutes, or until squash is tender.
2. Puree squash and cream cheese in a blender or food processor in batches until smooth. Return to saucepan, and heat through. Do not allow to boil.



Of course we doubled the recipe. Seriously, my husband hates most soups and he even had some leftovers of this for lunch today.

Blessings,

Carri