Refreshing Counsel

A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength. For by wise counsel you will wage your own war. And in a multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 24:5,6.

Doug heard Alistair Begg on the radio the first time and on the Ten Commandments. He came home and told me about him and then he got online and ordered the Ten Commandments series, Pathway To Freedom. So I knew his teachings had to be good, and they are! As we rode home from Homer on Sunday we listened to him. Pastor Begg teaches from Cleveland, Ohio and from a non-denominational church. Listen to Truth For Life online.

I am happy to report to Mom's fans, to those that prayed for this situation - Mom has come home! I am sleeping much better with her here too. We are in the process of applying for a room for her at a local senior home. This process could take years to complete. "We have a ten page waiting list with about twelve applicants on each page and your Mom is on the bottom of the list."

Mary told me not to even worry about getting the financial side of things figured out yet since its going to be a long while before they even get to Mom, then Susanne in Juneau said to fax it into them now so that she does not incur undue debt should they get a room for her immediately. I am getting mixed feedback! ha UPDATE: I just spoke with Susanne and she said Mom won't be eligible for help from the State until 2011.

Here is a poem from (I hope this link works.) Violet Able; a steadfast follower of Christ, a good counselor in the ways of the LORD.

How To Find Peace Of Mind

We listen to the newscasts that come daily to our ears,
We read alarming headlines that intensify our fears,
We grow more and more dissatisfied and feel less and less secure
As our days become more anxious and the future more unsure -
For with violence and dissension and chaos all around
We no longer feel with certainty that we stand on solid ground -
But in place of reading headlines that disturb our peace of mind
We should once more read the BIBLE & on its pages we would find

That this age is no different from the millions gone before
And that in every hour of crisis God has opened up a door
To all who seek His guidance and trust His all-wise plan,
For God provides protection beyond that devised by man -
And while God's Almighty Power is not ours to understand,
We know Who Holds the Future & we know Who Holds Our Hand.
And to have the steadfast knowledge that we never walk alone
And to rest in the assurance that our every need is known
Will help dispel our worries and in trusting Him we'll find
Right in the midst of chaos God can give us peace of mind.

Isn't that a great poem? Violet sent that to me when I was a teenager in high school. I have kept it all these many, many moons. When I take down my old Bible, the one that she picked up for me when I was a new Christian, I read it again and am refreshed.

Don't Steal The Glory!

Last night I had a dream about two missionaries that passed on already.

In my dream I was serving them dinner on the deck of our back porch. I don't know what I was serving but they were enjoying the lovely evening and the view of the lake.

The problem I was dealing with in my dream was I felt that they were cold, so I asked them if they were. Both were just as sweet to me as I remember them being when they spoke to me in this life. They said that they were fine, but I didn't think so. Maybe I was a little bit cold? I've heard it said that when Momma is cold then the children will be told to put on their sweaters.

In my dream I was so busy trying to find something to put over their shoulders that I was missing all the time to visit with them. Finally, I found some towels(?). I went back out to the deck while I laid the towels on them I realized that they were damp! They said that they didn't mind.

Frustrating dream.

My first memories of this couple were from my parents home when he used to come over to share a singing time and a short inspirational devotional from the Bible. My Dad loved to play his guitar and have the family sing along with him. Afterwards, they would visit and drink coffee.

Doug and I got married and shortly after that we moved to Juneau for a summer job. It could have been longer than a summer but because I was pregnant with twins and the hospital in Juneau did not feel they were set up to deliver twins during that time, they sent me to Anchorage! I was happy to go back to Anchorage! Our Juneau memories are not very good for us ---as a couple.

This missionary couple very graciously took me in when I had no where else to go. My parents and Doug's parents were not around. Mine were out in the village at that time and Doug's moved out of the State! I had to be close to the hospital so I could not stay in Chugiak (my parents home) where a ride to the doctor would be next to impossible to get, if the babies decided to come. So, I stayed with them for a week and quietly watched how they lived at home.

When I think of people that are worthy of remembering or people that have been instrumental in giving me focus in my life I realize that most are missionaries. I am happy about that. First Sunday School teacher was Violet Able. Person that wrote to me and was there to be the first to celebrate my decision to follow Christ was Rose Nabinger. When I think of who it was that counseled me and showed me how to make the Bible relevant to my daily life - it was Carol Cypert. Doug's parents were missionaries and if they weren't Doug and I probably would never have met! And when I think about Don & Lorene Stump - they showed me gracious giving. Giving whatever they had, which was not much, but the love they shared while giving made it worth so much more.

At Don Stump's funeral many said that Don would always say "don't steal the glory." All glory should go to God --- he didn't want any praises to be wasted on himself for anything that he did.

I enjoyed my dream last night, 'cept for the goofy towels, and I enjoyed seeing Don and Lorene again.

Old Teachers, Old Friends

by asross

I saw this photo while I was at Webshots. I did a search on Old Harbor, Alaska and one of Alan Ross's (Kodiak Canuck) pictures came up. Other lady is Alan's wife, Linda.

Violet Able loves the LORD and she loves us too. That is one thing I knew whenever I saw her. She moved to Prescott Valley, Arizona so long ago.

I used to use Webshots a lot in the past. I have not uploaded any new pictures for a long time. I was shocked when I opened the site to check on another person's pictures. It has had a facelift!

Cookies & Wreaths

Picture: Kim with her wreath.

I was looking at all the cookie magazines at the grocery store the other day. So many cookies, so little time!

My daughter, Karla, hosts a wreath making party at her home every Christmas season. She invites friends and family to come over and we all bring a wreath wire, or straw wreath or whatever we want to decorate and hang on the house for the season.

Wreaths did have meaning before the buy, Santa, buy, Frosty, buy, presents, crowded elevators & the poor ol' run over Gramma frenzy took over. (Personally, I enjoy all of that too.) It's so good to slow down and remember or learn anew the thoughtfulness that spurred the Christmas events and traditions that sadly have become many of the mindless actions I do during this holy season. I know many holidays have fingers in pagan practices, but to me, Christmas is holy and each tradition I am trying to attribute to them the truths of God's love.

This wreath making tradition can be used to pass the story of eternity on. The circle shape represents eternity. A very real upcoming event! I look forward to eternity. No more sickness, no pain, no heartaches. I believe it. I can't be swayed to think otherwise. If that belief is taken away, what is there? Nothing. That is an important truth to pass on to our children and grandchildren.

Here is a site that gives a good description of why we have the wreath.

"Some believed that hanging a wreath was a sign of victory, be it political, personal or religious."

Traditional Christmas wreaths are a symbol of faith. Since Christmas wreaths are a circle with no beginning or end, they symbolize God's eternity and mercy during the Christmas season. When Christmas wreaths are decorated with evergreen leaves and branches they symbolize everlasting life and God's everlasting love. Their green color is a representation of hope and new life.

(As read at the above link about Christmas wreaths and the story, meaning behind them.)

While reading magazine front pages, I saw a cranberry/white chocolate chip cookie that looks soooo good. So I did a search and found an Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookie recipe. Makes my mouth drool typing it out! They should be yummy. I plan to make them for the cookie exchange that is part of Karla's wreath making party.

Here is the recipe:

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies (drool)

2/3 cup butter/margarine, softened
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cup oatmeal
1 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 6 oz. pkg. Craisins or dried sweetened cranberries
2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 F Mix butter & sugar until fluffy, stir in the eggs. Mix the dry ingredients well and mix into the butter mixture a little at a time, making sure to mix well each time. Stir in the cranberries and the chocolate. Drop by rounded teaspoons on to ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a rack.

I also found a recipe for an Amish Ginger Cookie I hope to make these for thanksgiving. My daughter Kim's husband, Tony does not care for pies like we love, but he loves gingerbread cookies.

Amish Ginger Cookies (Makes 48)

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Extra granulated sugar

While reading recipes, this site included a Comments section. Here is a cute little comment I read there. The successful baker said something like:

"I loved these cookies, but I didn't have extra granulated sugar, but regular granulated sugar works great too."

Preheat your oven to 350 F. Beat butter & 1 cup of sugar until creamy. Add egg & molasses, beat until combined. (This would be a good one for easing those frustrations, beat it and beat it again!) Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Make 1 inch round balls, roll in the "extra granulated sugar", place balls on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 5 to 7 minutes, until barely turning brown. Cool on the baking sheet for 1 minute before removing to cool on cookie rack.

I sure love molasses cookies myself!

When I was a little girl, we had a Missionary named Violet Able living in Old Harbor. She would have children's Bible classes, and game nights. At the end, many times she passed out a big, huge molasses cookie to each child. They were so good! I don't think I have ever had a molasses cookie so good ever since those days.

Sometimes, she would let the big kids into her home during the week to help with Sunday School lesson cut-outs and after they finished the work, she gave them a molasses cookie!

One day, I knocked on her door and asked if she needed help, (I was almost a big kid, I thought). As I stood tall as I could she looked me up and down and then said, "Okay, you come in and we will see what we can find for you to help me with."

She found several sheets of Old Testament Bible story characters to cut out. I had quiet fun studying the pictures before I carefully cut each one of them out. When I finished and as she took the last of the cut-outs she said, "Let's see what we can find for a treat to pay you for your work."

She went to her kitchen, looked through the cupboards and brought a carton over. Hmmm, no cookies. Okay I thought to myself, what could they be? She opened the box, put her hand in and then set before me --------TOO MANY vegetable crackers!!!!!

Have fun baking and wreathing everyone and pass on The Story, the real one of Christmas!

"O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" I Corinthians 15:55