Who am I?

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and *help me rise again?
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?

Not because of who I am

But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are.

I am a flower quickly fading,

Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling.
Lord, you catch me when I'm falling.
And You've told me who I am -

I am YOURS.

Life

practicing during construction - beautiful weather :)

Nov. 1st, 2007, Sarah, Ben, Emily, I dawned our black performance apparel. We clambered into the Camry - four folding music stands, a cello, a viola, and two violins - and Mom drove us to The Heathman Lodge. Probably a couple months prior, Dena Conzatti called us to see if we would play background music for the Camas Pregnancy Center Fundraising Banquet. I don't remember
much of it - I was just eleven (I guess I was closer to twelve).

This year, I went as a guest of Ben's along with several others (however, none of us thought to get a group picture till we were in the car on the way home).

I think the most fun part about it was the Cake Auction... I've never bid for anything before (besides E-Bay, but - seriously?). They all looked amazing, but we chose this one to be what we would put our money down on. It was so much fun and a great way to raise money for (now) Pathways Pregnancy Clinic.

I'm thankful for Pathways - I'm thankful that they're there for girls of all ages who need help. I am thankful that the workers and volunteers there love God and desire to serve Him.

Pathways provides various services for women: after abortion counseling, ultrasounds, support groups, and more.

Wednesday - Memorizing and Baking

Bethany and I have been memorization partners this year. We decided that whenever we would get together to say more than one chapter, we would get together and do something fun while at it. Last time, we went to go see Cinderella (in theaters) and then to Jamba. This time, we decided to meet at Pete's and then have a baking day.

After we successfully quoted our verses, we ran to Ross - we were going to a Pregnancy Clinic Banquet the following night and we were told it was formal. (What does formal mean? There's a nice skirt and blouse, a nice dress, a Sunday dress, and then prom-formal.) Just in case it was going to be prom-formal, we wanted to check and see if Ross had anything we would definitely need - it didn't and that's ok 'cause we discovered later that it was Sunday formal... ish... (this will be another blog post. Sometimes I feel like there is nothing to blog about and then I have a weekend full of fun-ness :)

We got back to Bethany's house and began creating - it was then around 10 and we wanted to get a couple of goodies baked so we could send them to some friends. We pulled this off superbly and had the last Pumpkin-Apple Sauce muffins in the oven by noon. After lunch, we packed the goodies (adding the decorative touch of lace duck-tape) and ran to the post office before getting me back to my abode at 2pm. It was a day well spent from the moment of getting out of bed, till the moment of returning there.

It's such a blessing (and ton's of fun) to have friends who sharpen you while you are reciting verses or while baking in the kitchen. :) Who are your friends? Do you come away having given and having received encouragement and blessing (in some form or another)?

Apples Again!

Last year, I was in Russia during Apple Month - the month of October in my family. We get about 1600 lbs of apples and make apple sauce, cider, apple pie filling, Apple Yum-Yums and anything else we can think of. :)

It is also tradition to watch The Apple Dumpling Gang the day we get apples and to make Apple Dumplings (aka, Apple Yum-Yums). Sarah is now back from visiting Kaytch, so we will try to make some cider soon. Fall is rather official now in our house. Rain, wind, leaves, waking up and it still being dark (sometimes I appreciate this, sometimes I DO NOT, but it hasn't happened very often so far this year:) - yes, it has to be my favorite!

Here is what we do for Apple Yum-Yums:

Standard 10-inch pie crust: (Next time, I want to use the King Arthur's Flour pie-crust)
1/2 cup coconut oil
11/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbs cold water
Cut in the coconut oil, flour, and salt with pastry blender. Add water and cut again until pie crust texture.

8 apples
1 1/2 cup brown sugar (plus extra for stuffing)
1/2 water
1/4 cup butter
Fall spices - whatever you'd like. (In other words, make a syrup with Fall spices in it.)

Peel and core the apples. Wrap each with a thin layer of pie-dough.
Drizzle the syrup on and around the apples and then "stuff" brown sugar down the center of them.
Place in the oven at 300 for 30-45 min (pie crust shouldn't be colored) and then bump up the heat to 475 and let bake till golden brown (about 15min).

Those are rough directions - but the general idea. :)

Praise the Lord!

"Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and praise is beautiful." 

Psalm 147:1

"Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful!" 

Psalm 33:1

"Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and the harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!"

Psalm 150