Swedish Tea Rings

Tea ring #3 is ready to be rolled up!!
The filling is vanilla curd and pecan bits . .
This one is sweetened with stevia instead of sugar  . . the vanilla curd (like a custard) has only 11 grams sugar/ serving . .

Swedish Tea Rings

My first batch of tea rings are done cooking . . .
Coffee cake icing and pecan bits on top . .
Ready for Tuesday night's supper!!!

Swedish Tea Rings

This second tea ring is filled with butter, brown sugar, coconut, raisins and cinnamon   .  . .
Now I have two (2) tea rings rising in front of the fire . .
And the dough for the next two (2) tea rings, made with stevia instead of sugar, is rising in front of the fire also . . .
My house is going to smell so yummy by bedtime!!!

Swedish Tea Rings

The dough has risen and been rolled out. . .
This first ring is filled with butter, brown sugar, pecan bits and raisins . .

My First Crazy Quilt

A few stitches here and there between, cleaning, laundry and baking . . .

Swedish Tea Rings

Hi! Welcome back.
I'm in the process of making Swedish tea rings for church.
The dough for the first ring is mixed, kneeded and rising by the fire . .
Once this one is rolled out, filled with goodies and set aside to rise again, I will begin the dough for the next one  . .
Meanwhile Matt is creating new and exotic omelets for supper and I am going back to my quilting . .

Joy Dare •_• November 22, 2015

A gift grateful~~

Today I am grateful for all He has done for me . . where He has taken me from . . the way He touched my heart that night I was on my knees in desperate tears . . the path He used to bring me to this place  . . the amazing future He is laying out before me . .
I cannot express how grateful I am!!

Day 326/365

Hot coffee and a fire in the wood stove ward off frozen toes as I gaze out at snowy laundry on our homestead!!

Joy Dare ~_~ November 21, 2015

3 gifts family~~
* sweet sleepy son
* phone calls with Mom
* texts from sis

Be Grateful Challenge ~+~ November 20-21, 2015 ~=~ Sabbath Blessings . .

We started with a quick cleanup after work (necessary for basic survival) then had a funky homemade pizza (won't be repeating that combination!!) . . then it was time for snuggling up to a good Bible study followed by a quiet movie. . . .
Blessings of a first winter snow awaited us this morning  . . ah, seasons do change . . so it is with our lives  . . chat with a sweet son then off to work. . . slow driving in snow as you just don't know who thinks this is a new concept . . .
work offers the blessing of basic cleaning chores (My Paid Work~Out Program) and the opportunity to pray all day!! I have something special I am praying about and wanted to pray and fast today . . I know I shouldn't be working on the Sabbath, but I also know God sees that I am trying to change this without going under financially and ending up homeless, so I work while I fast and pray . . .  breaks and lunch to quilt and pray in my car while I watch the snow fall gently around me . . a few text messages from my sweet son . . I have a peaceful heart trusting solely in His direction and waiting for the next step He needs me to take . .   . . . . shopping for ingredients to bake Swedish tea rings for church . . home and safety and my sweet Matt . .
God is so good . .
So grateful for all He provides!!!

300 N Pine St, Joliet, IL 60435

Watching the snow accumulate  . .

Make Your Home a Haven Challenge ~ Day 32~~ Sabbath Begins . .

Sorry I haven't posted this . . I haven't been able to light my candles because my lighters simply vanished!! Undoubtedly I will find both in pieces somewhere  . . LOL . . it's either a boy thing or an autism thing, but it is a fact of my life . . and this boy of mine is teaching me patience and to hold my tongue/speak with love when discipline is needed . .
And so, Friday night candles are lit and prayers are said . . our humble homestead is peaceful . . and love abounds amid the usual chaos of overly busy lives . . .
Hugs and sweet dreams!!

Remembering God First

I recently heard a broadcast on Moody Bible Radio (I think Pastor Tony Evans was teaching) about robbing God and still expecting blessings  . . that sermon sure hit home!!   
Although I was, eventually, paying all my tithes I was not paying God first . . I was paying my bills, buying groceries and grabbing supper out ~~ then I'd finally write that check  . . :(
Listening to the radio program I realized what I was doing . . as Tony Evans asked if we would help someone who robs us, I felt very convicted! That was me! I wasn't giving God His tiny 10% before everything else!! No wonder my prayers were being answered sporadically!!!
And so?
When I received my paycheck on the 19th I went straight to the bank and deposited it . . .

I then Immediately wrote a check to my church for my tithes!!
"Obedience Brings Blessings!!!"

Day 325/365

Our first snowfall on the homestead this winter . . .. .  .

Day 324/365

A few after breakfast dishes washed and added to the drainer . .
Uncle Jerry's rose still looks fresh as it smiles on my windowsill . .

Would Jesus Have a Database That ‘Tracks Muslims’, or Whites, Blacks, Native Americans . .?

I have to admit I am in shock! What I am hearing takes me back to the 2008 presidential election and bizarre ideas about dividing the country into approximately five (5) segregated areas based on race!! I actually heard a call-in comment on a radio show recently suggesting that churches only allow those fully vetted to attend in order to keep evil out, and so we should do the same with Syrian refugees . .
While church members are vetted to ensure the unsaved are not voting on church matters, churches (for the most part) realize they are to "be fishers of men" following Jesus' lead to save the lost thus welcoming the unsaved to attend services. 
Jesus offered God's love to all sinners. The goal here isn't to kill all opposition. The goal is the salvation of all sinners. Have you heard the song "Waiting to be Found"?? Beautiful Christian song about the lost waiting for Jesus to find them!! Anyone unsaved is lost, so lost . . and waiting for one of us to offer them that soothing love of Jesus!
On a news feed I read that Donald Trump wants to put all Muslims into a database  . . I immediately think of concentration camps and internment camps and wonder . . and I am sickened . .  how soon until there is a database for each race? Is that really the sort of country we want to live in?? Are you in the least bit frightened of the implications of such a series of databases being kept? And what will be done with this information? Who ultimately decides that??
Another comment I heard on that same radio program asked,
"what if each church took in one Muslim family?"
Good thought!!
What if each church simply loved one Muslim family?
Made them feel welcome?
Showed them around town?
Took them home cooked meals?
Showed them the love of Jesus??!!!
How much further toward Jesus' goal does a sincere hug, a hot meal and a whispered "God loves you" go???!!!!
How would Jesus handle this?


http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/11/20/reporter-asks-trump-if-u-s-should-have-database-that-tracks-muslims-his-answer-ignites-outrage/

My Paid Work~Out . .

Today my brain is getting a workout as I'm on bookkeeping detangling . .
Still an opportunity to be in intense prayer . .
And to make new lists!!
WooHoo!!!
=•]

Wife Bible Study ~ Judges 21

For a tribe to survive there must be wives . .
The Benjamites would have perished had not the other tribes provided wives to them . .
My NKJV Companion Bible:
"25 In those days there was no king in Israel:  every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
Meaning given: "All the evil follows as a result of the disobedience in 1."

So, my thoughts, IMHO, evil in a church/country can cause it to perish fast . . looking at how so many churches and countries no longer truly follow the Word of God makes this clear . . if you look closely at the way the world is crumbling then look at what behaviors are now considered acceptable, the two (2) run parallel  . . look also at churches that only follow the convenient parts of the Bible and notice carefully the state of these churches and how they are changing . . sometimes you have to look very closely to see it, but it is there~ disobedience to His instructions causing evil to creep into His house!!
And for my wife Bible study?
Good to know that God will provide obedient wives to godly men!!

Day 322/365

My Paid Work~Out Program

Started my morning with an oil change and quilting for a spell . .
And then my paid workout  . .
Loosening up stiff muscles . .
:-]