Onward Christian Soldiers

This clip from one of my favorite movies, Mrs. Miniver came to mind yesterday, and I think it is very appropriate for this time.  It's a spiritual battle and I believe this clip portrays how many of us feel.  

It's a time to stick together and pray fervently and vote, there are so many important issues that are at stake here, Israel, the Right to Life, our freedom and liberties just so many things...  Here in America it's very simple.  Good versus evil.  Throughout history we have had famous Generals who led us to Victory in war, we valued and thanked God for their leadership warts and all.  We thank God for President Trump.  

There are evil people who think nothing of lying and are very, very deceptive. They will stop at nothing.  Anyone who thinks nothing of killing an unborn baby cannot be trusted or believed.  There are some heavy things going on in the background.  Please vote, get your friends and family to vote.  Vote for Life.  Vote for Liberty.  Vote for Israel. ...And for God's sake don't believe the liberal media.

 

 Mrs.Miniver Clip

 

Ephesians 6:12...

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

Let's vote like our lives depend on it...It does.  Faith without works is dead.

 

 

 

HERE is a GREAT sermon in print from the Presidential Election Season 2016 by a pastor from a very large suburban church.  He nails it perfectly.  

 

 

I hope you all are doing well and living the Life.  I hope we are keeping our homes that Peaceful place, serving God the Father.  So goes the homes so goes the country.  I think so much starts right at our dinner tables.   Let's teach our children what is at stake here in age appropriate ways without getting our little children into fear or anxiety.   Let's teach our youth to be those Christian soldiers in word and deed.  It's no time for passivity.  All the while let's keep a sweet spirit in our homes, there is so much darkness out there...We certainly don't want to bring that darkness in.  Be careful not to get gradually swayed by the currents.   Let us keep that plumb line straight up.

 

With much love in Christ the Father and many, many prayers.      ~Amelia

Show N Tells, Pumpkin Muffins and Autumn Music to Enjoy

 

So many outfits can be made from accessories!  Here's some things that jazz up a solid colored outfit:

 

A Fall Outfit

My fall scarf I made.  I love the little forest fox creatures on it, it's a very lightweight lawn cotton fabric, perfect for fall, and since I made it myself, it's wide and long...It hangs just so with some body.

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The little forest foxes remind us of our little Dachsund, Peanut.  Or rather Peanut reminds us of a little Forest creature... Peanut was rescued from the country roads in the severe cold last Thanksgiving by my son in law, can you imagine my surprise when I opened the door and saw this little pilgrim in my daughter's arms!

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For me, solid black is a great backdrop that makes me feel confident and put together.  I know it's fall when I break the black turtlenecks out!

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My double breasted black coat is from Walmart online, it's the Faded Glory brand and I've had this coat since '14.   

 

 

My favorite fall necklace from one of my favorite books and movies,  'To Kill a Mockingbird'  My daughter gave this to me.

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A favorite pin, a sweet Nightingale sitting sweetly on my coat collar.  An Etsy find.  I think it was under $7.

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A pair of zippered vegan ankle boots.  From Walmart, a great value at around 20.00 last year online, they are the Time n Tru brand. Great little boots. The sole and heel are a rubber, they do well on a rainy day. 

 

 

 

 Around Here:

We can spruce things up with fresh paint and a good clean out using mostly what we have if we narrow down to a theme of sorts and use whatever makes us happy.

Sprucing up my Laundry Room

I've Been Working on my Laundry Room to make it pretty.   Jem painted the walls a very soothing light pale yellow reminiscent of the breakfast area and even my nursery of my old home when I was tiny child in our sweet 30s home.   We used white trim on the shelves.  I have some cute vintage Christmas plaques that my daughters gave me last year and I had fun putting them in the laundry room last year.  I'm carrying through with the Christmas theme as you will see.  I will have Christmas in my laundry room year round!  Why not? 

What's "Up'?

Grace gave me this adorable little plaque for Mother's Day a couple of years ago.

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Look at these beautiful canvases I picked up at Walmart!  They are hanging above my utility sink, they definitely have elements of Christmas in them.  Who wouldn't love these canvas prints?  At $7.88 a piece?  What a bargain!   There are even brush marks on them, very nice canvas prints.

The plaques Zuzu gave me last year, so vintage.

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Joycie gave me this neat metal Christmas doggy last year, she found at an antique store.

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Our daughter, Joycie gave me this one, it has a pale yellow background too. 

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This is a very old cardboard sign from the old passenger trains from years ago, this was something my dad had, I'm thinking it's from back when he was in military school or traveling to college back then.  This is one side...  I have this near our door from the laundry room to outside.

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 Ha, I kind of like the opposite side! 
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 Gregory Peck agrees.

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In The Forest

Yesterday Morning

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 Liesl and Gracie were very interested in the top of the fig tree... What is it?  This is Liesl looking up.  Do you see a creature up in the tree?

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Oh me oh my!  It's a Possum!

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 He was cute, he had long black eyelashes, what a sweet little forest creature!  I think he must have been enjoying our figs, and that's okay they are way at the top, we will share.  Every Italian family has a couple of fig trees. 

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Hope Everyone is Doing Well...

I hope everyone's okay this most wonderful fall season.  In our rural neighborhood it's quite a gathering of Trump signs everywhere!  We have an unusual area, you really don't know who is here exactly.  We have a Dr. of Geology nearby, we have a retired U.S. General even here.  Quite a few law enforcement folks are here including swat team.  A very ecletic mix.  The main highways are smattered with huge Trump signs in every direction.   Jem and I went to vote and it was wonderful, so many people voting early like never before.  America at it's finest. 

  

Lately...

Autumn evenings are relaxing...Jem and I watched a James Taylor concert the other night and had fun relaxing, it was like really being there at the concert!...Making runs to the kitchen for treats of pumpkin muffins or popcorn fits the bill nicely...Here's an off the cuff photo, this is what my photographer daughter calls "ghetto photography", reflections in windows, televisions...wherever. One of my runs to the kitchen...snapped a shot.  Kind of a fun effect. 

 

Recipe:

I made my pumpkin muffins with almond flour and pyure stevia mix sweetener, maple extract works instead of the syrup.    The fragrance was soooooo nice! 

  Vintage  Photos by Robert Stock

Here's the recipe I used that my daughter makes!   PUMPKIN MUFFINS RECIPE.   Thanks Joycie!

   I hope you are enjoying the fall, using time wisely.  Time is our currency as the old Chris Rice song goes. Even though we are empty nesters in a way except for our youngest adult daughter who is a very busy gal, I try to keep myself busy.  I divide my time up during the day a bit like classes in school.  I have exercise time, create time, cook time, gardening time, reading and resting time.  It works!  We have to make our own fun and not depend on others to make us happy.

 

How do I love God?... By doing beautifully the work I have been given to do, by doing simply that which God has entrusted to me, in whatever form it may take.  

~Mother Teresa

 

 

 Some Music to Share...

How about some mellow vintage artists as we sip our coffee....

 

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 How about something more upbeat?  Some cheerful Vince Guaraldi  music?

 

 

 

Until the next time....

 

Every day is a Gift we've been given.  Let's make the most of that time.

 

Hope everyone is doing well!  May we lift our country up in prayer.

 

God be with you Dear Ones,     ~Amelia in the Forest

 

Proverbs 24:11     Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.

 Seven Things God Hates.

One of those things are hands that shed innocent blood.

A Beautiful Prayer for Repentance and Restoration.

Lately I've Noticed, Photos, A Recipe and Quotes for Fellow Sojourners

 

Our oldest daughter with our state Attorney General. More posts on our oldest daughter at Pearl Harbor Anniversary   HERE and HERE.  *big smile*

 

I grew up in a city councilman's home and I've always been taught to speak the truth, to speak it with courage and dignity.  Several of our daughters are also on that road as well.  Our youngest is an artist so she is not quite as involved but those quiet waters do run deep and she will speak for truth when things are brought up in her workplace.  My husband and I stand together, he is vocal as well.  It's straight up and down, many issues should not be conservative or liberal, they are Juris Naturalist.  It's good versus evil and we will vote Prolife.  Many issues on our liberties are at stake at this time.

 

My Message:

 

Lately I've noticed a quietness in many.  I've found this odd since our nation is on fire so to speak...Especially when we have the tools to put the fire out.   We have God and we have  God's Word.  We have our prayer rooms.  We have typing fingers.   We are responsible. 

There seems to be a common fallacy among some not to say anything, (Edit 10.14.20: Or write anything) as if it causes trouble and some think it will not change minds.  I kindly, humbly but strongly disagree.  Do not buy that.  We can be kind and we can speak truth.  ...And we can inform and yes!  We can change minds.

I will speak out, I will especially speak out when our unborn are being murdered as I'm sure you all know.  It is we who can spread the word of what can be done to stop this holocaust.  If we truly believe that abortion is murder then you better believe this gal will speak out.

I for one have been educated by a blogger who spoke their conviction with kindness and heartfelt concern over a subject, sometimes God has been dealing with our heart already.  Why this hush hush?  If we truly believe the house is on fire then I would say we need to warn!  If we truly believe that unborn babies are being ripped limb from limb with no anesthesia I would say...Yes! We need to warn!  I recently ran into a young woman who didn't even know one of the candidates involved in the race was a female.  So yes, we need to speak up.   

We will pray, we will act upon that prayer.  Faith without works is dead and God did not give us a spirit of fear..

 

 

Here is an appropriate poem from the Holocaust many of you may be familiar with:  

First They Came

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

By Pastor Martin Niemöller 

 

 

And we were thrilled upon hearing this.  An EXCELLENT message by Pastor Ed Young MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THIS TIME.  We highly recommend! 

If screen is not showing on phones, click   HERE

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Just Interesting I Think!

   A photo of special sweet security dogs getting ready to board at the airport on the way to the National Republican Convention our oldest daughter traveled to four years ago.

  Here's a shot of one of the cute fellas with the passengers on the plane. Now how was that for safety?  I never tire of seeing this photo!  ...So great.

 

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Around Our Home with Our Pets and Such.   It may not be on the way to any national convention but I think it's ...A Pretty Special Place!

I've been a busy bee around the homestead here...Gardening in my fall vegetable garden and going through boxes setting up my laundry room.

My fur angels keep me busy and full of joy!

  

Liesl...Such a loving sweet doggy...A colossal sweetheart!

 

 She loves her ball! 

 

 

A Recent evening....

 

 

 

A sweet day looking out the window, all the doggies having a glorious time!  Dogs know to get their Vitamin D, enjoying the sun!   Animals have much to teach us humans. : )

My garden.  I have turnip greens, collards, blue hubbard squash (so fun)  they are huuuge!  Butternut squash, white patty squash,  chard, cabbage etc.  Jem installed an irrigation system and I water the tops every morning.

 

 

 

Last night I made a nice dish that Jem really enjoyed.

  Photo by Robert Stock

 

 I will call this:

My One Dish Wonder!

(Get your cuppa coffee gal,  here goes)

You sautee one large or two small onions, a few cloves of garlic and a package of Italian vegan sausage Tofurkey (found in produce) shredded until browned in oil. 

I use olive or avocado oil.  

 Remove the Tofurkey bits and place in bowl for later.

Then you add a half cup of brown rice flour to onion and garlic and  make a roux, lightly browned.  

Return browned Tofurkey.

I added a couple of boxes of vegetable broth or the equivalent of water and bouillon cubes and added 4 cups of sliced red potatoes.  After the potatoes were soft I squashed them up a bit, not completely and added a package of frozen spinach. (Any green will do).   A tsp. of basil and Italian seasoning along with salt and peppa. ; )

I served this over brown rice and it  was delicious!   A one dish wonder!   Delicious! 

This dish is served in a bowl much like a brown gravy potato soup!

 

 

It is an extraordinary and beautiful thing that God, in creation...works with the beauty of matter; the reality of things;  the discoveries of the senses, all five of them;   so that we , in turn, may hear the grass growing;  see a face springing to life in love and laughter....  The offerings of creation...our glimpses of truth. 

   ~Madeleine L'Engle

The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.

~Harper Lee

Listen...be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.

Proverbs 23:19

Search your heart several times a day, and if you find something that is disturbing your peace, remember to take the proper steps to restore the calm.

~Francis de Sales

Have a sweet evening, let's keep our homes that place of Peace in a world that is not peaceful.  We can insulate our homes in God's love.  They will know we are Christians by our love.  And I do believe our children will too...

Take care, press on.   Unborn lives matter.  Vote for Life, this election is so very critical on so many things, our very liberties and freedoms are at stake.

  ~Amelia in the Forest

What's at Stake for the Unborn in This Election? By Alveda King

  

What's at Stake for the Unborn?   By Alveda King

Franklin Graham posted the above article by Alveda King, it sizes things up pretty well and specifically.  I respect Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King.

 

"Abortion is a civil wrong; life is a civil right!  

  

“In the White House right now, we have the most pro-life president in our history. With four more years, President Trump may have the opportunity to nominate one or even two or more Supreme Court justices.”

 

 

  

 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.
—Jeremiah 1:5, NKJV 

I think this little baby should have the choice to live.  Both Biden and Harris think to kill a little unborn baby moments before the baby is born or even after birth is a fine thing to do.  What has become of people? Harris also smiles upon the riots and encourages them to continue.

I desire this blog to be an encouragement for godly homes and godly lives for those who desire to walk in integrity of the Lord, it is also a place where iron sharpens iron so to speak coupled with joy and honesty of heart.  You may laugh here, you may cry here, you may think here.  One thing I  cannot do is separate my convictions from my life here. 

 

“Life reaches beyond politics, beyond religion.”

Live the Life....  Signing off from the Forest Cathedral, there's so very much at stake now.  Vote like your like life and country depends on it.  

Your comments are a blessing and encouragement to me, I also think it's a nice form of fellowship and encouragement. 

Black and White Photos by Robert Stock.

 

More Wonderful Fall Music and an Adorable Fall Cartoon (1934) to Enjoy!

 Oh what a plumb luverly day here in the forest...yes indeedie.

Jem and I were in the car and this song came on Jem's playlist...I just adored this new voice I heard...I hope you do too.  It's the voice of Tommy Edwards, I had never heard of him and am so glad we discovered him.

Enjoy!  It's All in the Game - Tommy Edwards

Now you must admit, that was pretty!

Glenn Miller is a hit with me all the time and there is something about this music that so fits this season of fall....

The Best of Glenn Miller

One of my all time favorite albums and singers...Nat King Cole..Oh but this one...

Nat King Cole - Love is the Thing and More

Once when I was going through some questions on my health out in the burbs, a scary time,  I would listen to this as I took the long drive to the old town our girls piano lessons were in...This music ministered to my heart like no other.

God sure knew what He was doing...He understands His children very well.

In our family we all know it's officially autumn when this wonderful classic cartoon is played, we LOVE this little cartoon!   Is this not the most adorable thing you've ever seen in the way of cartoons?  

Classic Cartoon, Jack Frost  (1934)

Around Here: 

I've been sewing quite a bit lately and cleaning out plus planting vegetable plants in my garden, the squash plants are amazing.  Did you know Blue Hubbard squash has a shelf life of 6 months after picking?   Jem painted my laundry room a very light creamy yellow color and made some tall wooden shelves painted white.  It's soooo vintage!  I love it!

Yesterday we enjoyed an outing to a wonderful Italian restuarant and then to Dollar Tree.  Ladies, do you feel like a little kid with Dollar Tree?  Oh my goodness, happy sigh.  Happy sigh.  lol  I picked up a few canisters of the plastic retro looking Christmas bulbs, these are a dark red with a little white Christmas tree painted on.  I'm doing a simple 4 foot tree on a vintage coffee table  this year.  This will be new.  I usually do the traditional tall tree with a full 40s look including icicles.  The problem I'm having is the last two years I had to take it all down myself...I started resenting that so this year I'm trying something new.  I'm doing smaller trees here and there, just lights except the one on the coffee table and that will be very simple.  I mainly just want the twinkle clear lights for effect in our home.  Any special glass ornaments perhaps will be placed in a large glass bowl or more around the house.  We'll see how that works.  I got the idea from the Homeliving blog with Mrs. Sherman.  So...The vintage looking plastic ornaments will fit the bill this year especially since I'm a MiMi ..   ...of two little toddler boys!  *big smile*   So yesterday's outing was that great Italian restaurant, Dollar Tree and Walmart..Both stores had wonderful Christmas selections!   I had a ball talking with several women at Walmart, so fun.  I'm like my dad, put me in a store and I'm a happy camper, I enjoy talking in little spurts to people, finding something to help them with, lifting them up with a compliment, just making someone's day!  That is true fulfillment in a normal everyday way...We don't need to be like zombies walking around.

 

Coffee, one of our precious rescue dogs, one of our daughters rescued this precious dog.  Just look at this smile!   Hoomans could learn from our dog, Coffee!   She's not bothering anyone or anything, just living life and tootling along.  She has arthritis but that doesn't keep her from smiling and being a blessing to others!

 

Spread love everywhere you go:  first of all in your own home.  Give love to your children, to a wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor.   

  ~Mother Teresa

 

Tonight for supper?  

It will be easy breezy.  Jem and I usually do pizza night on Saturdays. He picks out his favorite pizza at the store and I pick my favorite vegan pizza too, usually Daiya or Sonoma  brand.   We are both happy campers.  I will usually make a huge green salad or a cooked green veggie to go with the pizzas.  We enjoy watching an old black and white 40s movie after dinner to just relax...Usually we have our ongoing commentary as the movie plays.  It's nice.

This morning as I reflect on the change of seasons, I think of the different people who have come and gone in my life:  taking root like new spring plants, blooming like summer flowers , ripening like harvest fruit and resting like snow-covered trees.  Just as the circle of seasons is vital to renewed life, I accept, and give thanks for, the seasons of my own life.   

 

The quote above reminds me of our daughters' piano teacher, I loved her dearly and she was a friend and confidant of mine.  She was from that WWII generation as a little girl.  Oh how I miss her!  I'll see her on the other side of Heaven, she was no doubt a wonderful and sincere Christian woman.  When she was young she looked like Greer Garson...She was left a widow at a young age.  What a precious woman she was.

 

 

Photo by Robert Stock 

I'm reading a neat book:   The Other Side Of Infamy:  My Journey through Pearl Harbor and the World of War by Jim Downing 

Our oldest daughter was able to meet Jim Downing at the anniversary of Pearl Harbor several years ago, she was there to assist with the wonderful vets. It was the chance of a lifetime!  He lived to be over one hundred and passed away not that long ago.  My daughter tells me she could tell he was a Christian by listening to him and his complete demeanor.  Glimpses of the Pearl harbor Anniversary:  HERE and HERE.

This is my Grandma Amelia with my daddy when he was a darling little boy.  I never had the chance to meet my Grandma Amelia, she passed away when my dad was ten years old.  Very tragic.  Everyone I've ever talked to that knew her including my Italian grandma says that she was such a sweet, sweet person.  My mom and dad went to elementary school together so the two mothers would talk at school programs and such.  I look forward to seeing and talking with my Grandma Amelia one day on the other side of Heaven. She was of German descent and my other grandma was Italian.  I have my Grandma Amelia's Moody Bible study book, it's underlined and it's so interesting ...She emphasized paragraphs just like I do, in a side parenthesis, I'm trying to sew a dress right now similar to the one she is wearing in this photo.  It will have that same look to it...It's been kind of fun. A bit trying but kind of fun because I'm not taking it too seriously.  Perfectionism is not part of the game, no, no.  The dress is being made out of a dusty-blue seersucker mini check.

   

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The photos above were probably taken right around the time of the cartoon above!

 

 

 

God wears Himself out through the infinite thickness  of time and space in order to reach the soul and to captivate it.... The soul, starting from the opposite end, makes the same journey that God made towards it.  And that is the cross.  

~Simone Weil

 

Have a sweet rest of the day!     

I am convinced beyond a shadow of any doubt that the most valuable pursuit we can embark upon is to know God.

~Kay Arthur

   Coffee says Bye bye!