Finding Time

As the new school year is taking off, we need to remember that time is something that were are given to use wisely.  We have 24 hours in a day. That means that have 1440 min to do something incredible. Everyday we are given this gift. However. Trying to manage that time can seem down near impossible.
So to help with that, here are 5 tips to help use time efficiently:

1. Get enough rest
    You can not function unless you are well rested and able to concentrate. Devote enough time in your day to getting good rest. The amount of sleep each person needs is case specific. Learn how much you need and make it a goal to get the perfect amount.
Remeber: too much sleep can leave you lethargic and even more tired.

2. Eat right and stay healthy
    Try your best to eat the right kinds of foods. It doesn't need to be a designer, organic brand to be healthy. Believe it or not, but simple foods, such as oatmeal or beans and rice, are chalked full of vitamins and minerals that the body needs. It doesn't need to be fancy to be good for the body. If these foods are too expensive to buy at the grocer in individually wrapped packages, try buying an off brand in bulk. Save your pennies to get food that will last not just on the shelf but in your stomach. Buy foods that fill you up and keep you full. Try to make sure that the time you spend on food is time well spent.

3.  Always be trying to learn something
     If you aren't in school or are inbetween classes or teaching homeschooling lessons, see what else you can learn. It doesn't need to be school related. Maybe you need to find a more efficient way of doing something. Figure it out! Let those around you help. When you involve others, you will find that life can become very entertaining very quickly. Find something that interests you and learn about it. If you don't know how to do something, learn about it. Become and expert on the topic. Continuous learning helps the brain to focus. Take a break from the typical reading, writing, and arithmetic, and discover something worth while. Pick up a hobby. Learn random facts. With the magic of the internet, there are so many opportunities to learn. All we need to do is utilize the information.

4.  Don't waste time with endless hours of television
     There is nothing wrong with taking a break from your day and watching a little TV. Sometimes your body needs to stop and just breath for a spell. But don't let television and computer games rule your day. If you are especially motivated, learn how to multi-task. Work on a project while watching your favorite show; learn to knit, crochet, sew, paint, make cards, jewelery, cook even! Many times when you are able to distract your mind for a period of time, when you return to a task, you are better able to focus.

5.  Make time for the Lord
    He gives you 86,400 seconds in a day. Give him a couple back. Let Him know that you remember Him. Give Him praise. When you are focused on Him, He will make the rest of your load seem more managable. It won't always change or ease up, but you will feel better about being able to handle it. If you let Him help, you will find more time for accomplishing what needs to be accomplished. You will be focused and ready to complete the tasks that He gives you.
With that, you must also serve Him. How you ask? Help others. It doesn't need to be anything big. It can be telling someone something kind. If you can make one person feel loved, good. But don't stop at one. It feels like a lonely world. Change that. "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God." Don't squander that. Make feel their worth. Don't give them the option of not feeling like someone can be kind;even when others arent. Let His Light so shine through your actions.


As the journey from 2012 into 2013 progresses, may you feel His strength upon you. May you find that the challenges we face in life are meant to make us-not break us. May your time be well spent and full of many positive memories and learning experiences.

God Bless you through the journey.

The Lost Art of Baking Bread

Who doesn't love the smell of baking bread? It's warm and makes you just feel good.
When freshly baked bread comes out of the oven and is set to cool on the counter of a nicely clean kitchen, everything seems right with the world. Nothing really matters except waiting for it to cool so it can be eaten with butter. All politics, drama, worry, disappears when a hot loaf of bread is sitting right in front of you. Doesn't it?

Many people are afraid of baking bread. Yeasty breads take a lot of attention; they have to be proofed, mixed just right, kneaded to perfection, and formed. This might seem like a daunting task, but if you start off slow, it can be really easy, and even really fun!

Now, when I just said it would be easy and fun, a thousand images of ruined attempts and baking bread probably just flashed through your mind. Attempts where the bread machine broke, the loaf comes out disformed, the yeast didn't proof, the dough turned to paste, flour is everywhere, your counter is covered in who knows what, flat unrisen dough is all over your clothes, gooey bread that didn't cook all the way through is stuck to the pan; and the worst memory yet, after all of your diligent preperation, after hours of waiting for the first rise, punching it down and letting it rise again overnight, getting your hopes up that you have finally made the perfect loaf of bread, are decimated when you get called away from the oven, the dough is cooked a little too long, you are left with rocks.

SO.

Here is what you need to do. STOP! Stop worrying. Stop fretting. Stop being afraid. Just Breathe. 

Making bread from scratch is not really as difficult as it sounds. Even with yeast bread, the only thing that is truly difficult is not getting stressed if something doesn't go picture perfect. That just means you might need to get creative.

Without further ado, let's learn how to make a basic bread dough.  

Well you can't exactly just start baking unless you have a recipe...This is one of our favorites. It makes fabulous dough in about 20min and rolls in about 30 min

note: If you decide to use the dough for loaves, for pizza or what have you, the cooking time will change.

30min Rolls:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Bake for 10-12min

1 1/4c Warm Water(make sure it is warm not hot or boiling)

1/3 c Oil (most oils work well for this dough. although, I wouldn't recomend any that are solid at room temperature...such as coconut oil...I generally use generic olive or canola oils the difference in taste between them is minor)
2TB instant yeast (we could proof the regular yeast, but that can get messy and sometimes makes the bread making process stressful if one is unsure of what they are doing.It is also roughly the same cost as regular yeast and doesn't require the 15 min proofing time.)

1/4 c Honey or Sugar (honey stickier, but I prefer to use it to sugar. Sugar is quicker, but honey has more nutritive values, and I think it tastes better...)

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

3 1/2- 4 c Flour (I generally use All-Purpose white flour, but when we truly make bread entirely from scratch, we grind about a 50/50 blend of hard-red and soft-white wheat.)

Now. You have the recipe, so tie your apron strings and let's start with the basics.

When baking most anything (especially yeast breads), you want to remember to mix you dry ingredients seperately from you wet ingredients, then combine them wet to dry (unless instructed differently by the recipe). This ensures that the yeast will activate before it is combined with the flour.

An easy way to remember how to start this recipe is by remembering "First Four First".

In a medium bowl, combine the first for ingredients (water, oil, yeast, and sugar/ honey).
Mix it all thoroughly.

Then add the egg and salt. Break the egg and again mix it thoroughly.

In a larger bowl (preferably a large metal one), put the flour. Make an indentation in the middle of  the flour mound.
Slowly pour the now wet ingredients in the center of flour. It will look slightly like a large flour volcanoe is spewing frothy egg.

With a spatula or spoon, mix the ingredients until a dough forms. You may need to add flour or water until the dough is a good consitancy. It needs to be wet enough to be able to form it, but dry enough to work with it and not stick to your hands/ spoon.

Now you have a beautiful dough. The next step is to knead it.

Remember that if you don't knead it enough, it will not have the right consistancy, but if you over knead it, the dough will become really tough. Don't fear!

Keep the dough in the metal bowl and start to knead the dough with the spoon/spatula.

If it starts to get difficult with the spoon, start using a pastry scraper or your hand. remember to keep your hand relatively flat when working with the dough.
If you plunge your fingers into it, you will make a mess, and your hand could get stuck.

While you are working with the dough in the bowl, you may still need to add some water or flour (depending on your particular dough).

Now for the fun part!

Sprinkle flour on a flat surface (a counter, bread board, pan, wax paper, etc). Slide the dough out of the bowl and onto your floured surface (the flour helps it not to stick to the counter). Knead the bread with your palms away from you. Pick up the dough from underneath to move it. Use your hands like paddles when rearanging your dough. Knead it until you see it "tear" slightly when you push it away from you.

When you feel that it is ready, you can decide to make it into rolls or use it for other purposes.

For Rolls:

On your floured surface, form the dough into a loaf shape. Round the top so that it is smooth. Using your pastry scraper, or a sharp knife, cut the dough into even sizes. For 1 dozen rolls, it gets cut in half, reformed into two loaves. Those loaves are cut into thirds, reformed and each third is cut in half.

Form the smaller pieces of dough into a roll shape. Make sure that each roll is smooth on the top. The bottom does not need to be as smooth, but each roll needs to look uniform from the top.  Place formed rolls on a greased cookie sheet.

 

Bake for 10 -12 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown.

Be careful because they might be moist on the inside and golden on the outside.

A good way to check is to pull the rolls slightly out of the oven and gently nudge one. If it is slightly firm to the touch, it is done. If it still feels doughy, keep it cooking a little longer.

Let it cool. Doesnt' that smell wonderful?

See? Bread isn't that hard! It just takes practice. The more you practice, the easier it gets. Don't be afraid, just try it!

If you have questions, need advice, have any tips/ recipes, or just want to chat, feel free to email or leave a comment!

In Congress, July 4th, 1776

Hello! It's been a while hasn't it? Life gets crazy and the next thing you know, June is gone...Anyways, posts should start to pick back up again:)
So. In honor of yesterday being the 4th of July,
The links below will provide some background on the true nature of that day in 1776.

http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/
Declaration of Independence and some various histories...very interesting!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)
Yes, a wikipedia link...there is a description of observance traditions if you scroll down...

And there is also a very sweet description of a Fourth of July celebration in the Laura Ingalls Wilder book, Little Town on the Prairie.

The Lord works in His time, and His ways are not our ways...May His Love and blessing be with you and may you see His Hand in all things, even those that are not the most desirous of events.
He has a purpose for His work, and is ultimately for our betterment:)

"The Land of the Free...Because of the Brave"

Memorial Day.

It is the national holiday set aside for those who have fallen in defense of the United States of America.  Today is marked in remembrance of every person who has given their life for ours.  They loved us so much that they were willing to die for us.  They knew that the price for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of happiness was no small fee.  They understood that the second they put on their uniform, they became an open target for all enemies who stand against the noble cause of Independence.  The stood for our freedom, and they died for our liberty.  We must not forget those that have paid the price for our lives.

How do we repay them?  How is it that you acknowledge their sacrifice?  Is it once a year?  Do you visit the grave site of a fallen soldier and leave flowers? (Not that there is ANYTHING wrong with that! Every soldier must be remembered!) But is that the extent of your regard?  Do you walk a cemetery in solemn remembrance, then leave and forget why you had even visited? Is that the depth of your appreciation?  

These men and women did not die for flowers.  They died so that you wouldn't need to.  They died so that you are free to live your life without worry-without care- without the knowledge of every horror that comes with standing for a cause that is bigger than yourself.  They gave their lives so that we could go about our business, everyday, and have no concern for our safety.  And how do we repay them? How do we repay Him?  We spend our time idly.  We laugh at those who need our compassion.  We mock the people that we call our "friends".  We use and abuse the people around us.  The people that have received the self same sacrifice. 

Is not this the cause that they were fighting against?  The very evil that we are at war with? Are these the actions for which soldiers, young and old, gave up their families, their joys, their pains, their lives, for?  Is this how we repay them? By taking their sacrifice and dragging it through the mud?

Is this how we repay our Savior? We set aside a couple of days every year in remembrance of those who died for us.  We celebrate Easter, Memorial Day, etc. and glorify that single day.  Yet, we forget what it means to sacrifice. We forget them every other day of the year. Unless we have been directly affected by the death of a loved one, do we remember those that sacrificed their lives for us?  Do we always remember our Lord? Do we live to honor those who died that we may have the freedom to live? Do we improve the world around us? Let this Memorial day change you if you do not already strive to honor these sacrifices. 

Act with the hope that maybe, just maybe, you can give a little back to a troubled world. With the hope that their lives were not given in vain. Honor those who died for you. Acknowledge their gift.  Respect their resting place.  Remember them. 

Do not forget that they died for you.  Do not forget that He died for all of us- every person "great" and "small".  He gave His life in the battle for your soul. And He took up His life again in the sweet victory of a far greater battle.

Do Not Forget.

Something from Nothing

Have you ever had a garden?  Have you ever worked so hard for that garden to become something wonderful, and it doesn't? Have you ever tried every method that you could think of, or find, and the plants just won't produce?  Have you ever given up on your little garden, and come back the next year to start a fresh, and seen the plants that you had given up on growing, viable, producing?  Have you ever felt that pure excitement when you see the little green buds on your sticky blueberry plants?  The flowers on the chives you abandoned?  The sprigs on your "dead" rosemary?  The blossoms on the cherry tree that you thought had died in the harsh winter frost? 

Is that not how the Lord feels?  Is He not excited when one of His children finally accept his care and start to become something wonderful?  He sees them face adversity, trials, storms, freezes, extreme heat, and watches as they are about to break.  Then, all of a sudden, a choice is made.  The choice to continue onward.  The choice to thrive in a world that graciously provides every cause for defeat. How great is the joy of those that watch those that they care about overcome the tribulations of life. 

Are you one of those that are an aid gardener, or are you one of the beautiful plants that produces after hope has been lost?  It does not matter under which category it is that you fall.  It does not matter if you are wandering, if you are in pain, if you feel as though you will never amount to anything.  He loves you.  You are wonderfully and perfectly made.  The Lord will welcome you with all of His wonders.  He will bless you for coming to Him.  He will succor your broken heart.  However, He can only do that if you first turn to Him-give Him your heart to mend.  It is only through the act of fully turning your life over to Him, that all of the hurt, the fears and the insecurities can be healed.  Do Not give up hope.  He is ever present to lift you up.

Be cautious however.  He will not let you abuse His grace and mercy.  It doesn't work like that.  You cannot be fairweather.  The Lord will not tolerate a hypocrite.  If your intent is pure, it will be honored.  If you are not sincere- If you do not show Him that you are true- Take heed.  The Lord will succor His people.  But they must come to Him in earnest.  They must be trying to change.  That change will not happen overnight, but the efforts must be strong in desire and action. If you have experienced this change of heart, you will understand.  If you have been truly reborn, you will understand the depth of this process.  If you have not, do not be discouraged.  Father wants you to come to Him.  If there is an inkling of desire- just as with the small sprouts and buds in the "dead" garden- the Gardener will take that life, that desire, and will magnify it.  He will make weak things strong.  He will give life to the lifeless. He is the Well.  He is Life.  Without whom, we are nothing.  He is the breath we breathe, the inexplicable joy that comes when one lives in righteousness. 

So many might be thinking, "Um I don't have that problem.  I have faith, I try my best to be what the Father wants me to be.  I try to do more good than bad, what about me? I haven't wandered."  There are so many good and righteous people in the world.  They feel alone because they feel as though their efforts are futile.  If others can wander, and be accepted back into the fold, then why do they continue in their actions?  If people can have friends, fit in, sin, and still come back, why is it that I am alone?  Why is it that I'm told to be strong if it's okay for everyone else to be rescued.  Where is my rescue?  To those of you that feel this way, please do not let go of the rod.  Do not fall away.  He is proud of you because you never let go.  You never falter.  You are the ones that are the beacons bringing His children home.  Then you may ask, "Why would God let me take the abuse that goes with being a beacon?   Why must I be in pain for those who are lost to find joy, love, friendship, peace?   Why would he use me like that?"  Have any of those thoughts passed through your mind?  If they have, don't give up.  He loves you differently.  If you can endure your trials, you will be blessed.  Those that stay strong through adversity, His "shafts in the whirlwind", will receive the endless blessings of the highest degree.  If you can manage to continue in your strength, even when you are alone, even when you are scorned, mocked, ridiculed, bullied, hurt, scared, even when you bury your pain so deep down that it becomes a part of you-when it hurts so bad that you forget that it exists- when you have needed to plaster that smile on your face for so many days that you are past the point of feeling that pain that you have hidden, do not stop.  DO NOT forsake the Lord.  The pain that you feel, or don't, He will take away.  You are one of His chosen.  You are His child.  His hero.  You are one of the great ones.  You are the valiant, the elect, the only one that can completely and eternally fulfill your role.  The Lord loves you.  He will sustain you, and He will heal you. 

Whether you may be one of those that need to redirect your course, or you are one that needs to continue in righteousness, turn to the Lord.  Give Him your heart.  Become washed in His blood.  Find what it means for you to be reborn. He is the bread of life, the living water.  He the GREAT I AM.  Turn over your emotions to Him.  He will take away the hurt, and magnify the joy.  Let Him.

May you let the Lord bless your day. When He does, let His blessings do good for those around you. 

Praise Him in all that you do.

What have you learned?

Knowledge is something that you can't give to people.  You can talk to them and try to teach them, but if they don't want to listen, you can't force it upon them.  What you have learned is specific to you.  There is not one person who has learned exactly what you have learned in the exact way that you have learned it.  Your special combination of experiences is unique.  Yes, the world says that you are another digit in the system, but each person has their own story to tell; their own knowledge to share.  For that's the purpose of knowledge.  It is to mold each person by their thoughts, actions, and works.  The knowledge that God gives us is a special blessing.  We choose to live each day because of what we have learned.  Both our good choices and our bad ones are a product of our learning. 
What we know and treasure here, during this probationary period, will stay with us when we are with Him above.  Our personalities, our thoughts, our habits-none of them will change.  It is our job to take what we have learned through our experiences and apply them to our lives.  We can choose to be destructive, or we can choose to build up His work.  It is a choice that we must make based off of the knowledge that we have.

What will you choose?

So, You've Been Put Through the Wringer?

 Sometimes life is hard.  Sometimes you feel like you can't take anymore trials.  But if you prove to the Lord that He is your focus, that He is your Life, you will overcome your struggles.  Whether they are physical or emotional, if you rely on Him, your burdens will be made light. 

Our God is a fourth watch God.  He gives us our instructions and will wait until it is time for Him to step in and protect us.  He does this for our own good.  We must pass the test before we can be rewarded- but we can't pass His tests if He does not give us time to try.  Everything is made possible through His Grace.  We cannot loose sight of that.  Even in our most difficult moments, He is always there; always watching; always ready to help us through our challenges. 

Remember that even when you feel like you are being put through the wringer, He is there.  He may even be the one turning the crank.  But do not loose hope.  Do NOT give up. 

Just as dirty clothes need to be scrubbed and wrung out, so do we.  We are already beautiful, but He knows what needs to be cleaned and polished before we can return to live with HIM.

Feel your Father's love.  Feel your Savior's love.  Let that Love consume you.  Rely on it and trust in it.  He will sustain you- Through the good and the bad.  He will never forsake you.

May you see the blessings of the Lord in your life today.