Carnival of Homesteading

Welcome to this weeks carnival!  I haven’t posted in a while, so I was glad to have the chance to host this week’s carnival.  I am hoping it will get me back into posting gear.  So let’s get started…

Homemade Vanilla Extract 

Just recently I noticed that vanilla extract contained corn syrup.  I was so excited to read Shari of the Hopeful Homestead’s post Homemade Vanilla Extract...I did have a question I need to post for her.  Do I use this the same as regular vanilla extract?  Sounds yummy!

Handmade Gifts and Ornaments

Looking for a beautiful handmade ornament?  Jessica of My Country Life has some absolutely beautiful handmade pinecone ornaments.  Jessica, can you provide detailed instructions for making these?  I think this would be a wonderful activity to do with the kids (if it isn’t too complicated).   They look difficult to make, but I am hoping they are easier than they look!

Here is a wonderful craft that really wouldn’t take much time at all and would make a lovely gift…A Dishtowel Angel.  It is made with a matching dishtowel, washcloth and potholder.  Too cute!

Gloria over at Faith, Family & Farm shares her tradition of collecting Christ centered ornaments for her children.  Thanks for the link!

Vision Forum Contest

Last week, I was reading Life in a Shoe's blog.  She had a great contest , that unfortunately had just ended.  I was a bit bummed because the winner received $150 worth of Vision Forum products.  I always have Vision Forum products on my wishlist!  However, I thanked God that the people that needed to win the products had won, and may they be so blessed! 

Yesterday I was back at the same blog and would you believe she is having another contest and this time the prize is $250 in VF products!  According to the rules of the game, I need to leave my wishlist here, and point you all in the direction of the great products and great contest. 

Here is my $250 wish list:
The Best of the 2006 Entrepreneurial Bootbamp $125
A Comprehensive Defense of the Providence of God $125

So nows the fun part... time for you to enter!  You can go to Life in a Shoe's blog for complete rules.  Then visit Vision Forum to compile your wishlist.

Have a great time coming up with your wishlist!  So many goodies!!!

Contest in Honor of 50th Post

In honor of my 50th blog posting (not a lot for most of you, but for us blogger wannabe's, a great accomplishment!), I wanted to have a contest.  I just love contest, and everytime I enter someones blog contest I tell myself I need to have a contest.  So here it is...

I just found out some very exciting news today.  Care to guess what I found out???  Leave a comment with your guess and I will draw a name from the correct answers on Friday, Oct 19 - in honor of my dad's birthday!

The winner will receive 3 bars of handmade soap...

Mike Huckabee for President

Saw this video clip on Mike Huckabee's blog.  Glad to hear a candidate that doesn't feel the need to be politically correct. 

More Ponderings

As you know from a previous post, I have been seeking the Lord concerning the ancient paths.

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

Yesterday, in our lesson, I learned that the word "holy" meant "to set apart, separate."  I came home and was really thinking about this.  I had always thought of "holy" as "pure, pious, sacred".  Sister Lori's blog came to mind, Be Ye Separate (Be Ye Holy).  I got out my Webster's 1828 Dictionary, which I love because it has so many scriptures in it's definitions, and I looked up the word "holy".  This led me to "Holy Spirit", which is the "sanctifier of souls (or the separator of souls)".  In other words, the Holy Spirit convicts us to separate, to become Holy.  I had never fully understood the act of sanctification until I was studying this.  Sanctification is the "act of separating, setting apart, making holy".  One of the definitions Webster gave for sanctification was "detaching the affections from the world and it's defilements and exalting them to a supreme love to God." --Wow!

So I now understood the separateness God wants for us, but I was still unsure about how this relates to the way we do things.  Unless God has made it clear that you should homeschool, eat a certain way, or use cloth diapers, then not doing these things would not make a person disobedient to God's Word.  I should add something in here.  I am not searching for answers in order to point to others and tell them they are wrong for doing things a certain way.  Instead, I am wanting to get things ordered in my own mind.  If I share with someone else the wonderful blessings of homeschooling, I don't want to have the attitude that if they don't do things the way I do them, it is wrong.

So last night I was laying in bed pondering all I had learned, when it hit me.  I had been looking at the wrong side of the coin.  God didn't say in Jeremiah that if you don't go this direction, you are doing it wrong.  Rather, He put up a flashing sign saying, "go this way and be blessed".  It became very clear to me...all these things we do, these ancient things, good things, we don't do them because it is wrong not to, but rather because we are blessed by doing them.  My family is blessed because I am a keeper of the home,   We are blessed because we have chosen to homeschool.  When we seek the ancient paths, we are blessed with rest for our souls.

I am sure I have more to learn, and I am so thankful God takes me right where I am and gently leads me along!

Ancient Path Ponderings

Here lately, I have been praying and pondering the ancient path that God directs us to seek.  He promises rest for our souls.  As I have grown closer to the Lord, He continues to reveal more of Himself in the world around me.  I am reminded daily how perfect His ways are.  My recent thoughts, however, are towards the many women who claim Christ as their saviour, yet continue along the same path as everyone else in the world.  Obviously you don't have to grind your own wheat or homeschool your children to be a Christian, but is it too bold to think that these are His ways--the ancient path He tells us about.  I am really thinking out loud as I write this, I just can't seem to wrap my mind around it.  On the one hand, I know that the things I have learned and the path I am on is of God.  Only He could orchestrate the providential events in my life.  However, are these things He has laid out before my family's path to be enjoyed by us, but not necessarily for everyone.  Let me rephrase that.  Do you think He has a similar path laid out for all of His children, but only certain ones truly seek Him in finding that path.  Or do you think He is equally pleased with a family who chooses to live their daily lives similar to the rest of the world, but seek Him in their spiritual lives?

I just don't know.  I don't want to think "well, if you were a true Christian or even a more mature Christian, you would be doing xyz...", and yet most of the people I know that truly seek God in all areas of their lives, by default are doind xyz.  So why wouldn't someone seek the ancient paths?  lack of faith, ignorance in His ways, a love of the world???  I really feel God leading me to share His ways, the ancient ways, with other families, but I want to check myself and make sure I am not placing such a high importance on something that is not essential to salvation or even growing in the Lord.  Maybe that is the question, as a person grows in the Lord, will they too be directed on the ancient paths? 

Lord, I pray that you will make your ways known, and teach me your ways.  Give me wisdom and understanding and let me not be lead astray by false doctrine.  I want to know you more.  May your will be done. 

New Apron Contest

Stop over at http://www.xanga.com/Jude1_22 for a great contest -- hoping to win a new apron!  I just love contest.  I may have to come up with one of my own : )

10th Homesteading Carnival

I am so glad that I decided to host The Homesteading Carnival this week.  I have been reading through posts from various homesteaders and boy, have I learned so much!  It is such a priviledge to share with so many of you wonderful homesteaders.  This week, I made a few blunders in my soapmaking excursion, and I started thinking about how some of us first generation homesteaders are at a disadvantage.  In my mind I was pondering how great it would be to have my great-grandmother available to answer everyday questions about homesteading.  Then it struck me, God has provided such a wealth of information and know-how in each of you ladies (and gentlemen).  Thank you so much for your willingness to share both the good, and the not so good, as we ponder the path of our feet.  And now...on with the The Carnival!

What's Cookin'...in the Kitchen?

Jacque of Seeking Rest on the Homestead offers a great tip for meal planning, especially for those of us who have a difficult time keeping "on schedule".  I hit the jackpot when I clicked on "Meal Planning" -- lots of great recipes for Mexican dishes, yum!   Check out her links...

Jacque's daughter, Amanda (aka SuperHorseSteader), shares her favorite recipes (and I am sure her cheesecake recipe will soon be a favorite of mine!).  She is also saving some exciting news about the horse, just for you carnival readers...can't wait, I love suspense!

JocelynDixon has been busy this week, making cheese.  She did run into some difficulties and would love some advice.  I am anxious to read all the cheesemaking tips.  I have never tried making cheese, so hats off to you Jocelyn.

Need some breadbaking advice, or maybe just some new ideas?  Check out Jessica's Teaflower post, Mmm! Bread.  She teaches us how to let our bread sponge.  Please check CatherineAnn's blog, she has some questions for some of you seasoned bread bakers.

Home Remedies

Got Bees?  Blessedmomof10 has compiled a list of great home remedies for bee stings.  Sorry to hear her little one was on the receiving end of the bee sting.  Thank you for sharing your experience so that we can all be prepared.

Amy (sticknchick) shares her love of herbs with us.  I just adore all of her photos, so serene.  Her knowledge of herbs is something I need to tap into.  I thought I was doing good growing a bit of rosemary and basil.  Thank you for sharing, Amy.  Now I know where to go with my herbal questions.

Homestead Adventures

Rachel of RachelsReasoning shares her homesteading experience in building a pen for her chicks.  Sounds like lots of work, but so worth the effort -- a great adventure!

Garden Growings

Now, What about those tomatoes???  Gerald of The Great Outdoors answers this question for us.  

Chas "realizes how life is likened to a strawberry patch".  Isn't God good, He uses the things we are familiar with to show us His ways!

Back to School

Kristy (naturalmama) invites you all to share your homeschooling wisdom with others, as she compiles tips, recommendations, ideas,  and experiences.  I can't wait to read what everyone sends in.  Thanks for putting this together for us all to benefit from!

Various Ponderings

I was happy to read joyfulmotherhood's post on modesty.  It is difficult to go anywhere these days without being visually bombarded with immodesty.  It is a good reminder to us all to make sure we are not a stumbling block to others.

Harvestmom9 shares an excerpt from Homemaking by JR Miller.  She encourages us to think of ways to spark joy into our Wedded Life.

10 Things about God I am thankful for...I think the title says it all.

The Next Carnival

Thank you all for joining me for another Homesteading Carnival.  Please join Amanda next week for the 11th Homesteading Carnival.  Have a Great Week!!!

Carnival of Homesteading

I am excited to announce that I will be hosting next week's Carnival of Homesteading!!!  If you have a post that you would like to include in next weeks carnival, please let me know as soon as possible.  Have a great week!

Jasmine

Let's try it again...Back from Vacation

Just returned from a 2 week trip to Texas.  My maternal grandmother's family reunion was held at Coyote Run Ranch in Lubbock, TX -- it was HOT, but we had such a wonderful time!  My hubby is in the Air Force and we are stationed in CA, so it was nice seeing family members that we hadn't seen in years.  Being the innate homeschooling mother that I am, I did turn our trip into one big field trip.  Thought you might enjoy some photos...

Here is my youngest, Hannah, looking a bit alarmed as her pony circles the corral. 

A one room schoolhouse located at the National Ranching Heritage Center at Texas Tech University.  This ranching museum has consists of old houses, a train depot, and other historical items.

Here is my gang posing with a historical Buffalo Soldier reenactor.  We just lucked out being in town at the same time the wagon train pulled into town.

No, it isn't snow in June...it was miles and miles (100 miles or more along I-80) of salt!  This is taken in the salt flats of Utah.  It sure felt like is should have been cold outside, but trust me - it wasn't! 

I missed being online, but it was nice to have a break and enjoy my family.  I do have a list of goodies to post.  Sorry to those who were waiting for the quilting tutorial.  I will try to get that done this week.

Ponder the Path website coming soon!

I am working on my new website Ponder the Path.  My vision for the website is to have christian living articles and resources available on one website.  As I have grown in my walk with the Lord, He has shown me that there isn't a separation between our spiritual lives and our physical lives.  So many times, our human nature wants to have Jesus on Sunday, and "life" the rest of the week.  We need to realize that Jesus needs to be in everything we do.  God has provided so much wisdom for His children -- if we will only ask, He will reveal it to us. 

I have found that although the Lord admonishes the older women to teach the younger women, many of them have neglected the Word in their instruction.  I have heard many times of young mothers being told by older, Christian women that "these days, you both have to work to make ends meet", "two children are enough", "we have a great preschool here at church - you need some time to yourself".  It breaks my heart to think that as a young mother looks to the older women to guide her, she is being fed lies straight from the devil. 

I am not a great speaker and there are many times I have so much to say, but cannot articulate the burdens on my heart.  I am hoping that by providing information and wisdom, women will began to see that Jesus has the answers for every aspect of their lives.  If they will ponder the path of their feet, consider each area of thier lives, and let all thy ways be established, or founded in a secure position. 

I am looking for resources (books, magazines, websites) and articles for the site.  If you would like to submit an article query or recommend a resource, you can send them to jasmine.lucero@yahoo.com.  I will try to post submission guidelines soon, but generally speaking, I am looking for Christian living articles in the following areas:

Family (marriage, pregnancy, child training, breastfeeding, quiverfull)
Health (herbs, natural rememdy, immunizations)
Homeschool (methods, getting started)
Homestead (livestock, poultry, homemade, hand arts, beekeeping, survival)
Nutrition (whole foods, gardening/orchards, canning/preserving, water purification)
Business (home/family business)

I look forward to hearing from all of you who Ponder the Path!

Blessings,
Jasmine