It's Here!

It's Here!  Remembering the Alamo  has finally made it!  My dear Friend's 4th published book (this one's a novella) will be entering the world today.  If you are looking for an enjoyable read that isn't heavy, yet isn't boring light fluff go check it out.

The Synopsis:

When Pastor Mark Siegler takes his youth group on a midsummer vacation to San Antonio, he anticipates teaching them about honor and sacrifice at the Alamo. But arrival at the historic landmark brings cutting disillusionment. A troubled teen is determined to make things difficult - and spread his embitterment to the rest of the group. 

Mark has two choices: give up or try again. Midst his own discouragement, he decides to give them the story behind the legendary Alamo. And his perseverance results in the unforgettable.

The sweeping events of the Alamo comes to life through the eyes of an 1800's wheelwright named Silas Edwards. As his tale unfolds, his decision becomes a difficult one. Is defending the Alamo so important? Or are the principles behind opposing General Santa Anna worth sacrificing everything for?

Join Private Silas Edwards, David Crockett, William Travis, and Mark's youth group to discover the gripping events behind America's battlecry: "Remember the Alamo!"

Alicia Willis is a homeschool graduate and avid historian. From an early age, she has had the desire to write family-friendly, accurate books about the past. When not writing or doing endless historical research, she enjoys singing, being a church pianist, and teaching music. She and her family live in New Mexico.





If you enjoy reading, if you enjoy history, if you enjoy historical fiction; then purchase your own copy- here.

The only thing missing?  That perfect cup of tea or coffee!!!  
~Rebecca

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day.  

A day filled with roses, flowers, chocolates....and Love.  

Our family celebrates Valentine's Day differently then most folks.  We take turns pairing up to cook the family a special dinner!  We hang curtains all around the kitchen so no one knows what is being made.  We decorate the table and make beautiful menus/place cards.  Then we all dress up and enjoy an evening with our family (grandparent's included!).

A HUGE reason I love this is it really focuses on one of the true meanings of Valentine's Day- love.  Love is not about getting what I want, but showing others how much I love them.  I value this family tradition and plan to continue it for as long as I can! 

What is your Valentine's tradition?

Now, while I am not an overly romantic person, it is hard to see this day.  If it I let my mind linger, I feel stabs of pain that I don't have someone to share this day with...yet.  I mean, who (being single) doesn't?!?  Truly deep down we want to.  Here is a great blog post by a friend that I thought really hammered in some good points about the day.  Some I hadn't thought about but make so much sense.

If you are a courageous person, read it here.  And great job to Desarae!  It was a hard post to write, but truth was in every word!  Thank you for sharing it with us!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Rebecca

Blogs I have recently Enjoyed

I stumbled upon a couple of blogs/blog posts that have been very good.   The first is a blog you should just follow.  This woman has a love for singles and being an encouragement to them.  The two posts that have been neat to me are;

Why Women and Men Can't be Friends
(Watch the video at the bottom- it is pretty eye-opening!)
and
Single By Choice

These blog posts have brought up questions I haven't thought about- which is a good post!

The other blog post is by Lady Abigail at Lady Abigail's Soapbox.  It is on the;
patriarchal movement and our daughters.
Lady Abigail really wrote this post well- it is a controversial subject and can easily step on toes.  Although she didn't waver from her opinion, she said it in a very gracious manner- something few bloggers do!  She did a great job of presenting what she has seen over the years.  I value her words as she is someone who has and is living them out.  Rather than someone who has had no experience in the matter.

Go read them and leave a (nice!) comment letting them know what you think! (That is what we all want- lots of comments!!)  Then come back and tell me what you thought of the posts.  :)

~Rebecca

Absentminded or Absent?

Yes, I have been "gone" a while.  Whether from Absentmindedness or just being absent, you decide. 

Life has been good.  Correction.   My Lord has been good!  He has been very gracious this season and Blessed us abundantly!  

"What?!?!" you ask, "Isn't He ALWAYS good and gracious"??  

Yes, pat yourself on the back for noticing my sinful ways and let me finish.

Thank you.  :D  

For those of you who know us, there have been some tough times in our past.  Not awful, for that would be putting down those who have had worse.  Just plain ole tough.  
Between the possibility of losing the ranch, the economy being unstable which made Dad's job unstable, to relationships really struggling, the loss of a beloved Bampa, and the struggles of new phases in life, it hasn't all been "hunky-dunky".  

I wouldn't go back and change any of the lessons we have learned, though, for they have all been lessons we needed to learn and hear.  You cannot be made into a pot without losing a bit of clay.

Our Lord, as He always does, was gracious enough to make that season only a season- though not a "season" of 3 months only!  He is gracious to bring the rain and the sun that beats its rays upon us to grow for our time, but then summer settles in where there is the slightest of breaks.  The fall will be upon us soon, and I long to see the results of His work that He has done upon us!  

Or have they already come.  No one knows but One.  and I am sure for each it is a different season.  

In the meantime, our time has been most delightfully spent.  The ranch is now in a stable condition.  (yay!)  We now cannot say we own any part of it.  It is truly the Lord's ranch!!! 

Psalm 50:10

"For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills."

He has taken care of it just as He gave it to us.  But of course, it wouldn't have happened without us doing our hard work and part of it.  Joshua has truly stepped up this year and taken on the brunt of the labor, allowing Daddy to be faithful to his work.  
Josh has matured so much this year- both physically at a strapping 6 foot- and in everything else.  He has stepped across the threshold and left boyhood behind in the way it was planned. We couldn't be more proud of him!  He has such a servant's heart I don't know where there is room for anything left in his body....

With the ranch doing well, we took off over Thanksgiving weekend to spend a much needed vacation!!  For this family that hasn't had one in 6 years we were all in ecstasy!  :D  We drove out to LA, California and spent some delightful days seeing the sights and just relaxing with our family.  :sigh:  (see some pics here)

~We just got back from a delightful party at a friends house, and instead of just doing boring introductions, the hostess asked that we share what God has been teaching us lately.  

I have been thinking about that a lot (actually before the party, but that party brought it to the front of my mind if you know what I mean).  I think what He has been teaching me can be summed up in a beautiful hymn that I have been memorizing.

    Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! 
 Thou art the potter, I am the clay. 
 Mold me and make me after thy will, 
 while I am waiting, yielded and still. 

 Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! 
 Search me and try me, Savior today! 
 Wash me just now, Lord, whiter than snow, 
 as in thy presence humbly I bow. 

 Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! 
 Wounded and weary, help me I pray! 
 Power, all power, surely is thine! 
 Touch me and heal me, Savior divine! 

 Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way! 
 Hold o'er my being absolute sway. 
 Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see 
 Christ only, always, living in me! 

 This song speaks to me of how I must be willing to be as wet, yielding clay in His hands if I want to be made into a vessel for Him.  It shows me that He is powerful, so powerful, yet gentle with me.  :sigh:  It has been a good song to learn for me in this season of life.  I also love the melody (which you can hear here!) as it is very calming. 

The Lord has been showing me more about Him as He truly is.  Not just who I have made Him in my mind.  He has been asking me to be willing to give all up to Him- something very hard to do for a first-born perfectionist, type-A personality!   

Ahhh!  If I can only put into better practice what I learn from my Master!  

Well my friends, it is a late night and to bed I must go.  I pray the Lord is Blessing you abundantly this Christmas season!  May He remind you of what you need to remember, and show you what you need to be shown! 

~Rebecca   

Modest Fashion Week

My Sister and her friend are doing a "Modest Fashion Show" where you have fun trying to match your wardrobe with what the "theme" of the day is!!  If you haven't already, join in!  It is going to be lots of fun with prizes at the end!

Today was Flowers.  I actually had quite a few clothing items that have flowers on them, but they are usually pretty small- background designs.  Sarah actually told me what I should wear...and I did.  :)  What can I say, having a fashion diva in the house is pretty nice at times.  It was really handy when I went shopping.  I just let her have free reign bring me clothes.  Although some of them I really didn't care for- weren't my style- I did try on some I normally wouldn't have and really liked!  They are in my closet thanks to her.....:D

Here is my outfit for today.

 

Sweater- Target (LOVE it!)

Tank Top-Walmart

Skirt- Roamon's

Shoes-Shoe Dept

Hat- Walmart

Earrings- Avon (My cousin just became a consultant!)

Better close up with the earrings.  Don't you love how Sarah posed me?  She did such a great job taking my pictures!!  We just both got our outfits on and took each others pictures.  :D:D

 

The Shoes.  Aren't they fun?  Mine are Clarks which are ALWAYS very comfortable
and last a loonnnggg time.  Can't go wrong there.  :D

That's all for me.  I have a couple of posts in mind, but it will have to wait. Did you do the fashion show?  

Love,

Rebecca

Prayers

I would appreciate your prayers for a dear friend of mine.  She has had a tough year.  4 months ago her father died, 3 days ago her dear friend and cousin passed away, and today she learned that she just miscarried another baby. 

I know the pain she is going through right now.  You wonder where God is right now.  You know He has everything under control and that it is all going to work out for His glory.... but you just wish you could have one good thing..... 

People are always saying "trust in God, He will take care of you!".  It is nice to hear that, but you are trusting in Him.  You can trust someone while you are hurting.  You can ache while you know that God is a Loving God that knows what you are going through.  But it still hurts.  And aches.  And you have bad days. 

I just ask you to be praying that God would refresh her spirit.  That He would place His hand on their family in a way they can see.  That she would be blessed beyond measure.  That God would give her the desires of her heart. 

In Christ,
Rebecca

God's Blessings

What an amazing year this has been.  A time of healing.  I never thought we would actually see the end of the valley we have been walking.  Yet, all I had to do was look up.  Sometimes you get to where all you are looking is where you will place your foot next.  When you really need to look up and ahead to see the Light. 

A Dear Friend of mine sent me this beautiful 2-page, front and back letter of encouraging words.  That was all that was in her letter, encouraging words.  I was so blessed by the letter, beyond comprehension.  I felt like it was a soothing balm on my soul.  I just read it and cried as she encouraged me that any trial you go through just makes you stronger, that my Savior is still there, waiting for me to sing and praise Him.  I cried as she reminded me that I need to stay strong for my family, that I need to be an example to my siblings.  Something I am afraid I have not been doing. 

Through these last couple of years, I tried staying strong.  Sure I had my down days, but I was strong.  You have to be at times.  But after the sale of the ranch fell through, I don't know what happened.  I was so weary, had been for so long I didn't think I could make it.  Then God blessed me with this letter from a friend reminding me that I was strong- through Him and Him only.  That I could make it through.  That this was just for a season- and I truly believe it is almost over.  I was so overwhelmed that someone would actually write me a 2-page letter with nothing about themselves.  It came at the perfect moment when I need that.  God knew just when I would need that perk to keep me going. 

I am still not perfect, and I covet your prayers.  I really just want to stay in bed and cry.  Usually I just get up and cry.  But life goes on and you have to keep going.  You have to put one foot in front of the other.

Although I have made it sound so sad, it truly has been a good year.  God has blessed us in sooo many ways!  My mom did a good post for that here.  We have had to feed our cows for much longer than usual because there is so little grass.  We have been feeding them twice as much as we normally do, 3 times a week.  Yet would you believe we have always had cubes in our feed bin since winter?  Yes!  Our God has kept us full of cubes so that we can help our cows and we have not had to order feed!  The gentleman who takes care of the yearlings is also feeding cubes, though not as much and not as often and he has had to refill.  I still just get that overwhelmed feeling when I think of it.

Read my Mom’s blog to hear the rest of what God is doing in our lives.  He truly has reminded us of His great Love.  Another friend of mine told me that in the Bible when it talks about Joy it also talks about it defeating satan.  When you have Joy in our Lord, where is room for him?   I have been trying to find Joy so that I do not let satan gain the victory of the moment.  It makes so much sense, when you are joyful satan doesn’t have room in your heart.  The moment you become discontent, angry, bitter, he just moves right in.  Ugh, now to go and do it!!!!

I pray that the Lord shows you His mighty Hand today!
~Rebecca

Sewing Days

We have some good friends who live on a farm and grow some wonderful beans and corn!  The young ladies of the said family asked Sarah and I to help them learn to quilt.   We have now had 2 sewing get-togethers and have finally finished 1 quilt top!  (When you get 5 girls together it is hard to stay concentrated on the sewing that needs to be done....)  We have watched many, many movies.  Ate waaayyy too much!  had lots of junk food, and in general, had a fabulous time.  :D  They have another house on their farm, and we were able to use my Nana's house while she went to Washington to visit my aunt and uncle. 
I am not sure how much they learned, but we did have fun.  Here are some pictures from our last get-together.

We played on my Nana's Wii game.  

  Here are the blocks all finished.  We made a scrappy quilt with all of their scraps!  It sure turned out really cute.  :)  For the finished quilt we just added some big blocks of material.

Getting some Sewing done

Sarah made her wonderful muffins!  (You should post the recipe!)

All of our "Junk" food!  I think we will not do as much next time.....

The Finished product!  This is one of the young ladies....

And this is Sarah's. 

We sure had a great time.  We need to get together again (or twice!) to finish quilting.  I don't know what we will do next!  It is a really fun time  to be able to get together with other godly young women and do a project and just have some fun together.  It was fun.

In Christ's Amazing Love,

Rebecca

P.S.  I have not added any faces of the young ladies as there has been a hijacker going around and stealing people's faces to do ungodly things.  (I tried to do Sarah's blurry).  If you notice friends saying nasty things on your blog it may be the hijacker.   ~RLH