Simply Home Discipleship
We may live without poetry, music and art;
We may live without conscience and live without heart;
We may live without friends, we may live without books;
But civilized man cannot live without cooks!
He may live without books-what is knowledge but grieving?
He may live without hope,-what is hope but deceiving?
He may live without love, -what is passion but pining?
But where is the man that can live without dining?
By Owen Meredith
Teddy’s Button is the type of read-aloud book that encourages lots of discussion. My boys loved it and especially enjoyed the character Teddy. This sweet story is about a boy who’s Dad was a soldier who died in the war. He cherished the button that came from his Fathers jacket. He so admired his Dad and wanted to one day be a soldier just like him. Through many trials and tribulations Teddy eventually learns how to live the Christian life and put away self in order to be a good soldier for Christ. He also discovers the spiritual battle of fighting his worst enemy….SELF! He learns that pride, selfishness and stubbornness are difficult enemies to overcome without God’s help.
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If I had accomplished my goals since 1963, I would have run a marathon, got a degree in music, bought my home in the country and much more!! I have not completed my list yet but unfortunately the Communists have.. unbelievable.
I found this quote from Chief Justice Earl Warren and it reminded me of the quote from our current President, Barack Obama ; “We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, or a Muslim nation, but rather, a nation of citizens who are, uh, bound by a set of values.” I thought the contrast was quite striking.
“I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good Book and the spirit of the Savior have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses….Whether we look to the the first Charter of Virginia or to the Charter of New England or the the Charter of Massachusetts Bay or to the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the same objective is present….a Christian land governed by Christian principles. I believe that the entire Bill of Rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it: Freedom of belief, of expression, of assembly, of petition, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of the home, equal justice under law, and the reservation of powers to the people. I like to believe we are living today in the spirit of the Christian religion. I also like to believe that as long as we do so, no great harm can come to our country.”
We sang this hymn today in church and my heart soared. God’s amazing love is ecstasy to me. It overwhelms me and there are no words to really express my joy and gratitude my Lord….my advocate……my King!! I hope you will listen the lyrics of this song and be blessed as well. ~Anne
This is one of my favorite family read-aloud books. This story set in the Swiss Alps, will teach you about forgiveness, anger, and reconciliation. The main character Annette, learns about such things as she raises her little brother after her mother dies. We will read this book again because the lessons learned have such eternal value. The salvation message also comes shining through in this wonderful story.
We’ve also enjoyed the movie…not nearly as good but still a great family film for movie night. ~Anne
My boys and I truly enjoyed reading Little Britches this school year. Little Britches is the story of 8 year old Ralph Moody growing up in 1906 on a Colorado Ranch. This story includes many adventures that young cowboys would love to read about. Ralph and his family encounter tornadoes, irrigation wars, and poverty as well as family picnics, round up days and harvest times. As a parent I treasure the mentoring relationship that is explored between Ralph and his Father as they live through every day life on the ranch. I also came to admire Ralph’s Mom who was so very regular and “down- to- earth”, but who had such high ideals and morals. This book had one swearword (damn) that is used several times by some of the cowboys and other rough characters. It was easy for me to change this word in order to read this to my children. The lessons gained in this story made up for the expletives. This is one of those stories that you do not want to finish because the characters are so endearing and you begin to really care about them. If you are a cry-baby homeschool mom like me, make sure have your box of tissues for the last chapter. ~Anne
Whenever I make this bread my children cheer, my husband enjoys, my nephew wants to come over…it is that good. It is moist and very flavorful. It’s not a low fat, low sugar recipe, but is so very delicious that it is worth the treat once in a while. It also freezes well. The riper the bananas the better for this one! This recipe is doubled so you can freeze or share.
1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 -3 cups of very ripe mashed bananas
(this is about 3-6 bananas, I use a zip lock bag and smash them inside the
bag…kids love to do this)
2 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1 teas. salt
You can also add chocolate chips (highly recommended) or nuts
Bake @ 350 ’til golden brown. You can use mini bread pans, muffin tins, or regular sized bread pans. Check with a toothpick or fork to make sure cooked all the way through.
Sesame Chicken & Rice Salad
3/4 c Rice
1 1/2 c Water
2 c Pea pods
2 c Diced cooked Chicken
1 11-ounce can mandarin orange sections, well drained
1/2 c Sliced water chestnuts, halved
1/4 c Red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
1 tb Sesame oil
1 tb Salad oil
Salt and freshly-ground pepper, to taste
3/16 ts Garlic powder
Run cold water over rice in a strainer for about 1 minute, lifting rice to rinse well.
In a medium saucepan bring rice and water to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 40 to 50 minutes or until done. Drain. Rinse with cold water. Drain again.
In a mixing bowl toss together the rice, pea pods, chicken, orange sections, and water chestnuts. Cover; chill rice mixture for 6 hours or overnight.
In a screw-top jar combine vinegar, sesame and salad oils, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cover; chill at least 6 hours or overnight.
Transport the vinegar and oil mixture and the rice mixture separately in an insulated cooler with an ice pack.
Before serving at the picnic, shake vinegar and oil mixture well. Pour over rice mixture; toss.
Holiday Coleslaw
1 head cabbage, shredded
1 onion, minced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
In a deep bowl, toss cabbage, onion, and peppers. In a bowl, stir together remaining ingredients. Stir mayonnaise mixture into vegetables. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
My husband and I were recently blessed to be able to attend a Voddie Bauchum conference and hear him speak on multi-generational faithfulness. He taught us about how family worship can help us to raise up Godly children who will grow and do the same for their children all for the glory and kingdom of God. At church this past Sunday our Pastor also spoke about Family Worship. He quoted from President Truman saying “The buck stops here” meaning that the dad should take the lead in this area. I thought I’d share some of what we have done in our family and what we have learned.
*Family Worship Begins with the Head of the Household. This must be born of conviction, not of guilt or coercion. However, this is not to say that the Mom should never lead family worship.
*Family Worship must be Scheduled in order to have it become a regular practice.
*Family Worship must be Simple. It does not need to be a big production but just a commitment to gather together with the Word of God.
*Family Worship must be Natural. Just be you. God sent your children to you and you are the perfect person to lead.
*Family Worship must be Mandatory. No one gets to skip.
*Family Worship must be Participatory. Invite your children to join in singing, reading discussing and praying.
My dear Daddy was born in Massachusetts in 1924. I’m missing him today as I celebrate Father’s Day with my children and husband. I’m remembering things abo
ut him on this day that are not only unique to him but also to his generation. I’m sad that the men from the era of the great depression, and WWII are mostly gone now. The difficult years that they endured, the simple living without the conveniences we have today, and the poverty that many knew, carved out a different sort of man. Perhaps a simpler man….not a “renaissance” man for sure, but a strong, wise and more masculine man. A “get-‘er-done” sort of guy. I’m grieving this loss today. I don’t want them to go….I like the way they talk, I like their values for the most part, and wish I could keep their stories alive. I don’t even mind if they smoke a cigarette or two as they recall their stories. Perhaps that’s because my dad always had a cigarette in his hands when he talked to us children.
My Dad worked hard and seldom missed a day from his job even if he was ill. His strong work ethic probably came from the fact that having a job was considered a blessing rather than a curse. He never believed in welfare and considered it a shameful thing for an able bodied man to accept. He grew up in a poor family with 6 children and no father. He worked for Western Union as a boy delivering telegrams, he worked in factories, he studied chemistry and then became a plater at Cambridge Plating Company and even had his own business for a while. He was a bugle player for the United States Marine Corps. My Dad and Mom were married over 50 years, raised 5 children and did the best they could with what they knew.
“In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620.”
There followed the signatures of 41 of the 102 passengers, 37 of whom were Separatists fleeing religious persecution in Europe. This compact established the first basis in the new world for written laws. Half of the colony failed to survive the first winter, but the remainder lived on and prospered.
Today while we enjoyed our lunchtime meal we watched another history lesson from American Heritage Series by David Barton. We discovered all of the Black Americans who were members of Congress in 1872. Did you know that they were all Republicans and were responsible for passing many civil rights laws? Because this episode was so interesting, and the information was something I was never taught in school, I’m going to watch it several more times. We found out that many of our Black founding fathers were devout Christians and pastors. We learned that President Woodrow Wilson did not support Civil Rights legislation and also fired the blacks who had positions in government? He also was a KKK member! Did you know that Teddy Roosevelt did just the opposite and chose Booker T. Washington to work with him? I find it ironic that there are over a dozen schools named after Woodrow Wilson. Why would we give him so much honor…perhaps we did not read our history books. Perhaps we’ve been taught revisionist history? We were blessed to hear about a Godly founder named Frederic Douglass who reminded us of the proverb Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Well, I’m ashamed to admit that I am just learning these truths. I’m on a mission though to keep on learning and telling others of our forgotten history. Won’t you join me? Blessings, Anne
*ITALIAN CHICKEN STEW*
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 1/2″ pieces
1 can Cannelloni Beans ( I couldn’t find these on the shelf and just substituted white beans)
1 can kidney beans
1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes undrained
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup sliced carrots
2 small garlic cloves coarsely chopped
1 cup water
1/2 cup dry red wine
3 tbsp. tomato paste
1 tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. dried Italian Seasonings
In a 4 qt. Crock pot combine chicken, beans, tomatoes, celery, carrots and garlic; mix well. In medium bowl, combine all remaining ingredients; mix well. Pour over chicken and vegetables; mix well.
Cover and cook on low setting for 8-10 hours or on high for 5-6, or till vegetables are tender.
*HERBED ROAST BEEF*
3-pound boneless beef tip roast
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. mixed dried herb leaves
1/2 tsp.pepper
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup balsamic vinegar (or use red wine vinegar)
Spray 12″ skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Cook beef in skillet about 5 minutes until brown on all sides. Sprinkle with salt, herbs and pepper.
Place garlic in a 4-5 quart slow cooker. Place beef on garlic. Pour vinegar over beef
*ALL DAY MACARONI AND CHEESE*
8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
4 cups(16 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
I once heard someone say that the best “sauce” is hunger pains….still it’s a good think to know how to whip up some simple sauces. Perhaps if we copy and stick them on the fridge we will use these instead of a package mix. Blessings, Anne
*Basic White Sauce
For a thin sauce melt 1 tbsp butter over medium-low heat. Stir in 1 Tbsp flour and heat for 1 min. to form a roux (a paste) Remove from heat and whisk in 1/4 c. of milk. Return to heat and stir til thickened. Gradually add the rest of milk while stirring gently. You can also use evaporated milk for a quicker sauce. For variations on this sauce you can add finely grated cheese, or 1 tsp dried dill, or dried tarragon. For a mushroom sauce add 1/2 c. sliced sauteed mushrooms. Add salt/Pepper to taste.
*Basic Brown Sauce
2 Tbsp Butter or pan drippings, 1 small carrot diced, 1 small onion diced, 1/4 c. flour, 2 1/2 cups Beef stock, salt & Pepper.
Heat butter over med. heat. Add veggies and saute til browned. Add flour to make a roux (paste). Lower heat and cook til light brown. Add stock and bring to boil. Stir constantly til thick. Strain to remove veggies and any lumps. Salt and pepper to taste.
*Basic Gravy
Failed in business in 1831 
Defeated for Legislature in 1832
Second failure in business in 1833
Suffers nervous breakdown in 1836
Defeated for Speaker in 1838
Defeated for Congress in 1843
Defeated for Congress in 1848
Defeated for Senate in 1855
Defeated for Vice President in 1856
Defeated for Senate in 1858
Elected President in 1860!!!
The men who laid the foundations and reared the soaring arches of our great republic had a vigorous, indomitable, and all-encompassing belief in God. Faith permeated their thoughts, words and deeds. We see Thomas Jefferson’s hand guiding the quill which wrote, “I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” We see George Washington, when the fires of hope had flickered to embers, kneeling in the snow at Valley Forge. And we see wise old Ben Franklin suggesting to a Constitutional Convention, deadlocked time after time, that “we have prayers every morning.”
This nation was born out of faith in God. It can continue to exist in freedom only as that faith remains forthright and strong. A statesman of a past age said, “despotism may govern without faith, but Liberty cannot.
Faith in God remains the solid rock that stands unmoved amid the sliding sands. The antithesis of cynicism, it is the dynamo which sparks the minds and actions of men who think beyond the pettiness of self. It is the tie which binds mankind in mystic unity, exalting the human creature until, indeed, he is “little lower than the angels.” And it is the balm which salves the sting of time and death.
Faith in God has meant to me the enjoyment of those manifold “blessings of liberty” which the Founding Fathers sought to secure for all posterity. It is a fathomless source from which to draw strength in times of adversity. And it has helped me to catch a glimpse of the wisdom implicit in those immutable laws by which He rules His universe. ~J Hoover
The Flag is many things. It is a mark of identification of ships at sea and of armies in the field. It is a means of communication. When you see our Flag in front of a home, it says for all the world to read, “Here lives a family that is American in spirit as well as in name.” The Flag is a mirror, reflecting to each person his own ideals and dreams. It is a history. Its thirteen stripes and fifty stars embrace a record written greatly during these years since 1776. It is a mark of pride in a great word-the word “American.” It is an aspiration of what small children want their lives to be. It is a memory at the end of life of all that life has been. It is a ribbon of honor for those who have served it well-in peace and war. It is a warning not to detour from the long road that has brought our country and its people to a degree of prosperity and happiness never even approached under any other banner.
Flag day is a day to proudly display our flag and show our respect for our flag and country. We are still one nation under God and we must not get discouraged but defend and stand up for our flag our God and our country. May the Lord have mercy upon our nation, may he send revival, restore our country and turn our hearts and homes towards Him.
