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A sanctuary from the world" The family meal table is a sanctuary. It is a secret place from the daily word of strife. On of the Hebrew words for "secret" is sod which comes from the word "yasad". It means to "sit down together , a talk session, an intimate friendly convesation or a serious consultation, a company of persons in close secret talks. " Families can enjoy this special time together at each evening meal. Psalm 23:5 " You prepare a table before me in the presense of mine enemies." Mothers we can prepare a table that is a sanctuary from the filthiness of the world. Our husband and grown children may spend their day out in the work place. More often than not they are surrounded by filthy talk, jesting, immodesty an humanistic reasoning. If they come home and turn on the TV, this conatimination of the world will only sink deeper into their spirits. But if they arrive home to a waiting table -- a table that welcomes them with good food, love, and fellowship, the filth of the day washes away. As you communicate and talk about the things of the Lord, their souls and spirits are washed clean. " ~ Nancy Campbell, The Family Meal Table & Hospitatlity Study guide, pg. 20 _______________________________________ I was blessed to grow up in a home where the family gathered each day for dinner together. It was not just a " Sunday meal" that we enjoyed once a week, but each night we would set the table and sit around as a family and share our day. I remember when I got old enough to have friends and eat at the homes of other families, I took notice that many did not eat together as a family. Kids grabbed something on their own, or families would sit in front of the TV. I didn't appreciate the family meal table when I was a child in my family home, but now years later I look back upon that time as a treasured time in my life. In talking to my 88 yr old father about the meal table he shared that he felt very strongly that it was so important for mother & father to sit down with the children and share a meal each day. He told me that is where values are passed down and where parents can get a feel for what their children are thinking and feeling. I am grateful to my parents who in wisdom, chose to follow the "old paths" and held family dinner each day of the week. Today, statistics show that families eat only a few days a week together. What has happened to the family meal table? I am currently leading a study of Nancy's book on the Family Meal table and I have been blessed to read her thoughts on this special time of day. I have chosen to follow the tradition my parents gave me and we do eat together each night. I too agree with Nancy and my dad that it is a wonderful time . It is a sanctuary for us! It is a time to share our hearts and thoughts, and to put aside the world. I do hope many of you are blessed with special moments around the meal table. ~ gloria ~
03:24 - Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentPheasants forever...The men went pheasant hunting over the weekend. A good time was had by all (except maybe for the pheasants
Two of the puppies went to their new homes over the weekend. Only 3 to go. We also had a surprise visit from my best friend & her boyfriend. They were vacationing in the area & came over Sunday after church. We had a really nice visit & went out for Mexican. (Hey, JD! the shop teacher with the yogurt was Mr. Lampman Visiting old friends & remembering Jr High & High school always makes me so glad I homeschool Blessings. 01:37 - Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentPictures, Pictures and more PicturesNothing special about the pictures...just things around the homestead lately :o) Enjoy!Some of the property over the weekend. This is the back clearing where we want to build. If we don't build here, I want to put our schoolhouse up back here anyway (just to the right of that center pine tree...that's where the trail heads back to the pond. The next is the logging road they used a few years back to get to the neighbors property...and where they come up with the 4-wheelers. The bottom of that range there is the end of our property. Next two are of the pond, coming in from that logging road, through the trees. It's just seasonal and lately, that has meant no real water to speak of. The first year it had maybe 2 foot of water. This year, maybe the same. The 2 years in the middle, it was just about bone dry and useless with the drought. We'd like to dig it out more and shore it up to try to keep water in it. We know there's a decent aquifer running through this part of the mountain, down about 150 here at the house end of the property. Would be nice to have some water for the animals if nothing else.     Thanksgiving weekend work on the homestead...Finally getting the holes dug out for the posts for the back porch area. Most likely, it will never make it as a porch and will be enclosed for living space...maybe that outdoor kitchen ;o) I tried to get the holes started but it's all clay...and really thick nasty stuff at that. I just can't do it. I'm a wimp. I admit it. So, as Drew was over for dinner, we put him to work with Dewey :o) The goofy pup there is the beagles basset mutt mix we have...brains of a stuffed animal, but lovable. He chases rabbits and such all night. Pinned a coyote down in the timber last year so we could shoot it. He's a good dog...just goofy. Notice Miss Abigail's bare feet...this was the day after Thanksgiving. Sure wouldn't be out running the countryside like that back North this time of year!    Thanksgiving fixins' on the homestead...We spent all day Wednesday baking...2 pecan pies, 2 apple, 2 chocolate (that's the empty crust with the tin foil in it) and 2 9x13 pumpkin cobblers. And the yummiest yeast rolls :o) It's a mix we do up and keep in the pantry --delicious. And, yes, I'll add the recipe soon! The full menu ended up looking like this...deep-fried turkey, a huge (h-u-g-e) smoked ham from the butcher (stupid me didn't ask about size, just got the one that looked so good...it didn't fit inside the 18qt Nesco roaster we have...had to sit cockeyed until it cooked down some and slide into the pan the right way!). Dressing, green bean casserole, baked corn, potatoes/gravy, sweet potatoes, then the list of desserts. We made honey nut crunch and ranch/dill crackers for snacking all weekend. This was the first year our eldest wasn't at the table. He rode up with Dewey to pick up Hope's car and drive it back. He wanted it to be their first Thanksgiving, and he was frying his first turkey solo...    The 20 quart mixer...yes, that's a make-do kitchen sink set up there. We pulled out the cupboard a while back. I have a very nice, new countertop sitting out in the building, but until I know for sure what we are doing (building or simply remodelling) I don't want to use it yet ;o) And, yes, those are cinder blocks under the mixer -- it sits too low to the floor for comfortable use. I know it looks rather hillbilly-ish, but it works ;o)   The meat, part 1/Day 1...still partially frozen, even after 2 days of thawing in the cooler bag. Guess that cooler bag works far better than I thought it did! We cut up most of the chunks to more suitable pieces and readied them for the canning jars.   
12:42 - Tuesday, December 2, 2008 - comments {0} - post commentAttention Stargazers!!Got this from my Farmer's Almanac e-newsletter...
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I am a stay at home wife and mom. Plain & simple.
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