FOR TODAY, September 15

Outside My Window... the sky is gray and it is pouring rain! The surrounding forest looks so lovely, and the rain is coming down very thickly.

I am thinking... that rainy days are some of my favorite weather. I probably wouldn't feel that way if they weren't so rare, but there is something so cozy about staying indoors during the rain.
I am thankful for... the fact that we have running water today. Yesterday it was off, then on, but so little was coming from the faucet. I had to catch what did drain out in jugs and fill the washing machine by hand for its many rinses, to save the pump.

From the kitchen... sandwiches with tomatoes, onions, olive oil, and oat burgers.
I am wearing... a tie-back denim jumper.
I am creating... a couple of bathrobes to wear after the baby's birth.

I am going... to call my mother today. It's so too bad she lives on the other side of the world. Umm, I guess actually I am the one who lives on the other side of the world....
I am reading... Proverbs.
I am hoping... to finish the buttons and buttonholes on the two bathrobes today.
I am hearing... the rain pouring down, and a vehicle driving somewhere.
Around the house... I did some cleaning in the bathroom, vacuuming, and tidying this morning.

One of my Favorite Things... historical sites in America like Sturbridge Village. I went there as a child. I do miss such things. Nothing like that here at all!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Get started on sewing the baby's waterproof mattress cover and fitted sheets.

The Simple Woman's Daybook is an idea of Peggy. Kindly see her blog for details if you would like to use this idea on your blog. Thank you.

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        I know that what I will be sharing here could be controversial to some, especially at this time of year. It is not my desire to offend anyone who may think differently. These are my personal convictions, but I respect that others have varying opinions on the subject.
        "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
       God tells us that Christians are not to be yoked with unbelievers. A yoke is a unifying, binding tie which enables us to work together. Political parties are a yoking up with unbelievers. By voting for them, or candidates who represent them, we work together with them.
       Politics is a world full of strife, strategy, strong competition, and even deception. Can we take part in and even aid such a movement when Jesus says, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Philippians 2:3. We notice when one politician tries to put another competing politician in a bad light, how sides find fault with each other. It's also obvious that irritation often rises among citizens when they discuss political matters. Politics is a competition for power, and not all involved "strive lawfully," but indulge in accusations and counter-accusations. Our vote is an endorsement of the person and party we vote for.
       Human government is a principle ordained of God. In fact, rulers are referred to as "the minister of God." (Romans 13:4) We are commanded to obey them, and if we do not, we resist "the ordinance of God" and endanger our eternal salvation. (verses 1, 2) Therefore, we could not say that Christians should have nothing to do with government. God wants there to be human government, and human rulers stand in a place ordained of God. (Many rulers have abused their privilege and thus disqualified themselves from being God's ministers. Nevertheless, the position of ruler is a God-ordained post.)
       It would seem certain that the Lord desires upright, God-fearing people as leaders. There is a need of Christian leaders whose lives exemplify temperance and wisdom and who stand for religious liberty, freedom, human life, and morality. If a Christian can serve in government without participating in the strife, strategy, and self-defense of politics and with no ties to parties or unions, he may be able to influence laws for good. Being free from party entanglements will allow him to be free to vote and act according to his conscience, not according to the wishes of the organization that backed his campaign.
       It may be that today such opportunities would be hard to come by. This is why it may be harder and harder for a conscientious Christian to work in government.
       I believe I can conscientiously vote on laws and issues. If I were a Californian, I would be eager to vote for the proposition that protects marriage. But since the presidential race is such a web of politics and parties, I do not feel comfortable to vote in it.
       Before voting for any candidate for any public office, we must consider the record of his or her life.  The following thought questions are not meant to point out any particular politician currently under consideration, but simply reflect my thoughts on what characterizes a suitable leader. Could I vote for one who will not protect human life? One supporting change of the U.S. Constitution? One supportive of restricting civil liberty? One who has a history of marital unfaithfulness? One who is a lover of alcohol? Since we become partly responsible for the actions in office of the one we voted for, we should carefully consider their life and character before giving our vote.

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FOR TODAY, September 9

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I am one of those who longs for the country life, the simple life, closeness with nature, and home. But at this time we are not living the country life--that is, we are not homesteading. In fact, I suppose that our life might be considered quite unique by some.

But that is not what this blog is about, but rather to help me focus on those areas of my life in which I can follow the country way, the simple way, of doing things. Things like canning, carrying water from the spring, heating with wood, sewing, drying clothes on the clothesline, cooking from scratch, and making homemade bread. Things like getting ready for the birth of our child and preparing to be a stay-at-home mother.

But to give a little perspective, lest I give the impression that we are living in a log cabin by a lake, I ought to tell a bit of what real life is like. We live on the third floor of an apartment building. We are very blessed that it is outside of town and that our views from our windows are trees, a vineyard, and a garden. We do not hear traffic from our bedroom window; there is only a dirt road behind us. We are blessed to have found this place because where we live, country homes are not available for rent. We really did try though.

We live in a foreign country. I won't say which one, but I'll describe it a bit. This is an Eastern European country, one that is *not* yet in the European Union, one that is economically depressed, behind the times, disadvantaged. It's also very small, about the size of Vermont. If you can imagine an independent nation the size of Vermont having its own local language (including varying dialects) and only 2 million people, that is this country.

We still seem to be waking up from the old days of Communism. In one city, we heard that certain areas have been without running water for 40 days. That was a while ago. Just today my husband told me that the doctors have to wash their hands with a bottle of water. And yet the government has announced that they will be erecting a couple of statues--of Charles Darwin and Tarzan, of all individuals. It is like a comic tragedy. I could go on.

So why are we here? My husband is doing Christian work in this country. Although I am no longer out with him, I keep the fort at home. That is important too--very important. We do not have a local church to attend, so most of our Sabbaths are spent quietly at home. It is lonely here, very isolated feeling sometimes.

I must not fail to add that I am American! I think I never really realized how thankful I am for the wonders of America until I had lived here a while. It is such a blessed land.

And yet we are so blessed here too. We live on the edge of a small town. There are no intertribal conflicts, no threat of war. I think of the conflict in the country of Georgia, not all that far away from our part of the world. It's peaceful here. I'm so thankful. It wasn't always that way. One village we drive through on the way to the capital still shows the bullet holes in the buildings from the last ethnic war. There were more holes when I first came here, but they are gradually getting patched over. Kosovo is our near neighbor. But it is very peaceful here, especially where we live.

So we are very blessed. Our home is not being bombed. We can buy fresh fruit and veggies in the outdoor markets, even though there is no place to garden. We have running water most of the time, and when ours cuts off sometimes, there is a spring just out back. Our neighbors are friendly. Sometimes I sit outside with the ladies in the evening under the big walnut tree out front. We have a great deal to be thankful for.

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FOR TODAY, September 3

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FOR TODAY, August 27

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I am 27 years old and a committed Christian. I preparing to be a stay-at-home, homeschool mother. (Yes, the home is the child's first school, where he gains his first impressions of life, and that begins from the first day of infancy!)

I enjoy homemaking, cooking, cleaning, baking, and laundry. I enjoy sewing, and although we live in a place where gardening is impossible, I love gardening. I greatly look forward to the day God will give us a place of our own, with space for a garden! I enjoy the sense of accomplishment and the good food that results from canning.

Other interests include Bible reading, writing for a website, Called to Be Separate, English and foreign languages, and teaching. I feel my ministry in life, at this time, is to raise our child for heaven. It is the foremost calling a mother has. I am also involved in Christian ministry, and believe this to be an essential aspect of every Christian's life.

On the more relaxing side, I am fond of dollhouses and paper dolls, felts and feltboards, Cradle Roll song devices like rainbows and felt Bibles, making playhouses and tents, and other things that we adults do not have time for anymore, but which having a child gives you a wonderful excuse to enjoy. I love nature and camping, though have no opportunity for camping. Again, in God's time!

God bless you all,
Amy

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I finished canning the peaches for this year last week. Today I started on the tomatoes. Sadly we don't live in the country so are not able to grow our own produce. We buy from farmers' markets at good prices though. While in a large grocery store last week (I am very rarely in a large grocery store--there are none for many miles around.) I noticed that a can of stewed tomatoes costs between 3 and 4 times what the ones I put up today cost me to make, and I am not sure that the can holds as much as one of my jars does either. So I am thankful to be able to put up the fruit myself. It is almost the only way to live in this country where we live.

I did 27 jars, but the jars here hold only 3 cups. Unfortunately, this morning as I started working, I became extremely weak and a little nauseated. I think I may have a problem with lack of iron--but my doctor is on vacation, so I must wait to call her. I had to lie down frequently, but I was thankful when the exhaustion passed and I was able to work quite normally the rest of the time.

Recently when I was canning peaches, the running water cut off. This happens all too often in the apartment community in which we live. There must be a problem with the water system in this town. It was off around 6 and a half hours. During that time I hauled all my water needed for washing and canning from the spring behind our building, up four flights of stairs. Maybe I shouldn't have done that, but I did not think I was carrying more than I could handle. I am used to working, and it is hard to know how much is too much. The water pressure got quite low while I was working today, but I am thankful it did not cut off. God is good.

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We are eagerly preparing for October 30, which is the due date for our first baby.

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