Blog Anniversary:

I just noticed that on 12/15 I will have had this blog for one year.   I have noticed others having celebrations and "giveaways" for their anniversary.  We'll just have to see about that :)

I'll be makin' some plans.

Have a nice day y'all

30 Days of Thanks

Day 10.........

It's an easy day to be thankful here in the Northeast United States.  We have sunshine and warm temperatures.  I am certainly thankful for that.  We have prayer meeting tonight and I will get to fellowship with my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord and I am really thankful for that.  Another thing I am thankful for... I  found a REALLY cute jacket at the thrift store this afternoon for "someone" on my Christmas list... can't say who.   I'm thankful for great thrift stores... we have 4 of them in our area to shop at and two really great ones that takes a while to get to (good for Saturdays).

More tomorrow... go ahead and get started... you could call yours 20 Days of Thanks if you start today.  Just sign up at "The Hutch Haus" we are all looking forward to hearing from you.

30 Days of Thanks

Day 9 

I can tell that by the time I get to the end of the 30 days I may end up repeating myself.  That's only 'cause I'm getting old,  not because I can't think of 30 unique, individual things to thank the Lord for :)

I am thankful today for God's Word.  Conny was mentioning the gift of words and it made me stop and think a little more about words. 

Have you noticed some of the 3:16's in the Bible?

Well, you could start with Genesis 3:16 and work your way through... but I'd rather not think about Genesis 3:16 too much. 
Let's skip over to Matthew 3:16:
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:"

Luke 3:16

"John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:"

and of course John 3:16
^"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

and Colossians 3:16
^"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

II Timothy 3:16
^"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"

There are probably others, but I'm going to stop there.  I like to find patterns in the Bible like this.  I know that chapters and verses were added later to scripture, but isn't it kinda neat how this happened... all these 3:16's that are such important sections of the Bible.

It is a joy to have God's Word.  To be able to read it any time and anywhere.  I also thank the Lord that we still have that freedom and pray that it will continue for us in the United States.  There are many who are forbidden by law to read God's Word, or humiliated for reading it.  I have actually been ridiculed many times for referring to the Bible or quoting scripture, but keep in mind this scripture... not a 3:16, but so important to remember

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

Days 5,6,7,8 of Thanks

I have to admit that this weekend was "out of control busy".  Mr D who is bothered by asthma has had trouble breathing well in the house.  I know that the walls sweat and sometimes molds form on the surface and if I don't keep up with it, this can have a huge affect on him.   We are really squeezed into our camper and moving furniture around can sometimes be an issue, so this weekend I did an all out cleaning and took everything that was washable to the laundrymat.  It was a lot of curtains, blankets, mattress pads, the window quilts that need to go up, towels out of the cupboard.  I had a big washing.  It took only about 2 hours at the laundrymat though.  That is a huge praise that I didn't have to wash and hang out all this stuff, especially since one of my clotheslines fell down a week ago and it rained today.  I would be fighting with that laundry for a week.

Then I washed down walls with bleach solution and the floor and the ceiling.  Well, if nothing else the house smells good now.  Mr. D is breathing better and I am happier.

I thank the Lord for the ability he has given me to take care of my house.  I know I often complain about cleaning, but just think if you weren't able to do it?  I would be so unhappy all the time.  My momma taught me how to clean and take care of the house and for that I am very grateful. 

I am also thankful for the laundrymat.  Whew... I'd have been in trouble this weekend without it.  That job could have reasonably taken about a week to complete and I would be troubled with getting it done.  Now it is all clean and put away.  You may say... "well that's a silly thing to be thankful for"... but just the same I am extremely thankful.

I am thankful that I have a creative outlet.  I am able to go into my little "cubby hole" of a sewing room and get creative when I need a little creative relief.   Christmas is coming.

I am thankful for my sweet husband who put on my snow tires last night in the dark because it was going to snow today and tomorrow.  Isn't he a sweet guy?

I am thankful for a warm home to come home to.  I am thankful for a good job in a time when many do not have work.  I am thankful for my coworkers who put up with me on Monday after a sleepless night because the wind was blowing hard all night long and they changed the time on me.

I am thankful for my church family with whom we ate a wonderful meal on Sunday... yea for potlucks.  I'm also thankful that we have good cooks at our church :)  of course I probably ate a little too much, but how can you pass up chocolate chip cookie pie and chocolate cream pie?

I think that gets me caught up.  Maybe I'll get a little more serious tomorrow.

Love you guys and join up in the 30 Days of Thanks at Conny's blog

30 Days of Thanks

Today I am thinking of the message we heard in prayer meeting last night on prayer.  What a blessing it is to be able to go to the Lord anytime we want.  In good times and bad or maybe for no real reason at all or perhaps just in praise.  No particular posture needed.  No payment needed.  No reason to wait.  It's like having your best friend with you all the time.  I think if my best friend were with me all the time we wouldn't be best friends anymore :)  BUT  God is our very best friend and he never gets sick of us. 

Our pastor used the illustration in the Bible of Moses interceding for Israel. 
Deuteronomy 9:18-29

"And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.
And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.
And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, [and] ground [it] very small, [even] until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.
And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, ye provoked the LORD to wrath.
Likewise when the LORD sent you from Kadeshbarnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice.
Ye have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you.
Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights, as I fell down [at the first]; because the LORD had said he would destroy you.
I prayed therefore unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand.
Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:
Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say, Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land which he promised them, and because he hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness.
Yet they [are] thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm."

I know this is a large scripture to digest, but our pastor brought out some challenging thoughts... I've been thinking about them ever since.  Is there someone in your life who just seems to be going the wrong way?  They claim to know the Lord and seem to have a desire for spiritual things, but then walk away from the very things that would help them grow and mature?  I have several someones in my life like this.  Is my prayer for them important?  You can see from this passage that Moses went through this same thing.  I am praying that the God who began a great work in the lives of these people in my life... will perform it... just as he promised He would do.  I am taking to heart this example from the life of Moses.  It inspires me and encourages me.  God is good and God is able to change the life of even the most crusty individual you know.

What a great God we serve and just another thing to be thankful for... the power of prayer.

If you'd like to participate in the "30 Days of Thanks"  head on over to Conny's and link up.

30 DAYS OF THANKS... DAY 1,2,3

I told Conny that I would participate in the 30 Days of Thanks.  Here it is November 3 and I haven't started yet... sorry Conny... I hope to get caught up today.  It's not that I haven't thought about it and I am truly thankful everyday, but I just wasn't able to get on to post about it. 

November 1  In "retrospect" what I am most thankful for #1 in my life is found in this scripture passage:
Titus 3:4-7

"But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

I often think about what I would do if I lived in Old Testament times and had to sacrifice a lamb for the covering of my sin.  There would have been lots of dead lambs :)  Thank the Lord!  He has provided us with sin cleansing through his death on the cross for us.   Also what a comfort to know I'll see those who have gone to Heaven already.  This separation is not forever.  I will see my Mom, Dad, first husband, daughter, grandparents, aunts and uncles again some day.  After the elections (oops that hasn't happened yet) it's also nice to know this is not my "final" home.  How wonderful God is to provide us with Hope and we don't have to pay for it, or earn it somehow by being good.  I'd like to be "good" all the time, well... you know how that goes :)

November 2
The next thing I am most thankful for is the leading of the Lord in my life.  My favorite hymn "He Leadeth Me"  has these words...

"Lord I would put my hand in Thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine"

OK... I do murmur from time to time, but I want to say it is not my intention.  I am so blessed!  What do I have to murmur about anyway? 
Isn't this a precious promise?
Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. "

He cares for us even in the tiniest of mundane situations.  He knows we were made from dust and He loves us completely.  What a blessing it is to know Him.

November 3
This catches me up with the rest of you.  Today I must give thanks for my family.  Of course my Mom and Dad are gone on now, but how thankful I am that they loved me and raised me in a Christian home surrounded by Christian principles and spiritual guidance.  I have a wonderful brother and sister-in-law.  I never had a sister, but Cindy is my sister anyway.  They have two wonderful sons and their wives and children.  My grandparents on both sides and aunts and uncles and cousins... all of whom I can honestly say would do anything for ya.  My beautiful daughters Joanna and Heather and Heather's family and Joanna's Pedro :).  My grandson, Brandon who came to know the Lord this summer, YEA! and then last but certainly not least my precious husband who puts up with me every day... not sure how.  He is the sweetest person on the planet (according to me), and I love him so very much.  I remember when he asked if he could be a part of our lives I had to tell him how crazy our family is.  I thought he'd maybe turn around and walk away, but he chose to stay anyway and I am so thankful.
God has certainly blessed me with wonderful family members, each and every one of them.  I don't want to miss my "extended" family... my husband's Mom and Dad and sisters and their spouses and children.  They are also very wonderful and have been a true blessing to us. 

OK enough for those 3 days.  I'm ready for 27 more...  see ya soon.

Long time ago....

Yup, I know it's been a while, but I have been too busy to write much here lately.  Other things have taken precedent.  Anyway I had a post ready to share, but it was way too boring.

I wanted to show you some pictures anyway of my daughter's new hobby/career... welding.... artistic welding... metal sculpture... well,  as you can see I'm not really sure what to call it, but it's neat and she's looking to sell some of her pieces so if you are interested let me know.

Here is her very first metal sculpture...

This would look really cool in a garden.  I think its great what can be made from scrap steel.  She's quite the creative one.

Her next try was a little more difficult probably because of the cast iron she chose to work with, but I think she'll get it... it's a good start and will make another beautiful piece when it is done....

I'm looking forward to seeing the finished project.

We have been very busy on the Millett Farm the past few weeks.  This weekend we will probably be butchering ducks... the ones born in the spring.  I think out of 12 ducks there were only 2 hens... the rest were drakes and gotta go.  Muscovy meat is really outstanding.  Of course as with any duck it is all dark meat, but very lean.  We cooked some in the pressure cooker for supper last night and it was very yummy.  That was a duck from last year.  They are also very large birds and have quite a bit of meat on them.

They are actually quite a bit bigger now and are testing their wings... another reason why we really need to get this job done.

I hope to add more later...

Here's a little LATE fall color for you to enjoy....

Hope all of you are really enjoying this season of the year.