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5 Comments» Continue ReadingMeditation For This Morning by Charles Spurgeon August 31 Isaiah 51:5 On mine arm shall they trust. In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father’s arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, […]
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» Continue ReadingDid you know that the word canter comes from what was known as the “canterbury pace” in the 18th century…from the supposed easy pace of medieval pilgrims to Canterbury? We had a neighborly invitation this past Saturday to horse around out in the country, away from the buzz of the city and suburbia. Saddled with endless busyness, I hardly needed an equus to spend a morning taking it easy and enjoying gracious hospitality. It was a perfect start to a whinning weekend. Yes, that was for your punning pleasure. The allure of country life has always captivated me. I love giant old trees, dusty roads, farmhouse furnishings, and a well-worn pair of cowboy boots. I love the ambience; the Preacher loves horses, the escape from city life, and the hard work that goes into an acre. We enjoyed a couple hours away from the pace of our life this weekend, as […]
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» Continue ReadingBy now, if you are on Pinterest, you’ve discovered it’s great usefulness, ease, and potential for endlessness. What can be a wonderful cataloguing tool has proved, at times, to be an opportunity for discontentment, anxiety about all the projects you don’t have time for, and even a full-blown case of over-stimulation. Just like any other online social media tool that promises inspiration and “connection,” thoughtfulness about how to USE Pinterest will keep IT from using you. Here are some things I keep in mind to keep my Pinterest-ing in check: 1. Determine what you use Pinterest for, and schedule time to be on it accordingly. 2. Resist the temptation to browse perpetually by not keeping your homepage open on your computer. 3. Limit the number of people you follow: The more folks you follow, the more images come to you, the more rabbit trails you chase. 4. Put yourself to […]
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» Continue ReadingThe littlest littles are not so small these days, it seems. I’m thankful to have special time with just the two of them, experiencing things again with them for the first time– like riding the zoo train… …and cutting teeth on carrots!
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» Continue Reading…set them free! Roots, that is! I’m no orchid expert; lover, yes, but no expert. I’m also an orchid philanthropist. I find every orchid worth saving, especially ones marked down to $5 at home improvement stores. I currently have as many orchid littles as I do boys. (Wanna guess which set of children will increase first? ) I was long overdue to repot my sweet orchids, and with a newly rescued orphan on board, I was ready to take the plunge. The best time to repot an orchid is when it has just finished blooming. Orchids tend to like being a bit root-bound, but squishy, dead, totally bound up roots require some pruning: Use sharp, clean shears to cut off any roots that are dried up, squishy, or rotting. Healthy roots are firm with green tips. Most orchids come potted completely in sphagnum moss. Moisten the moss and roots, and […]
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» Continue ReadingNot many of us have experienced the pain of losing a child, much less the unthinkable tragedy that Steven Curtis Chapman’s family experienced two years ago. In her book, Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope, Mary Beth Chapman writes these words to her son Will Franklin: You have been entrusted with an incredible pain! I’m so sorry. I wish as your mom I could take it away, but I know that God has a plan for you to steward this story well and to minister to other in your suffering. Nothing I’ve suffered in life has ever compared to that kind of loss. Nevertheless, whatever trial, whatever suffering you are in the midst of is the pain you must contend with. Do we think of it that way when we go through times of trials and suffering? Do we feel we are ”entrusted” with something valuable and […]
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» Continue ReadingEver since my girlfriends decorated my baby shower with flowers arranged in mason jars…and ever since I started collecting jars for outdoor lighting in our newly cleaned up back yard, I can’t stop thinking about all the uses for canning jars. Then I ran across a dozen Kerr widemouth jars on a clearance shelf for $5. I’ve always wanted to use jars for drinking glasses, so this was the perfect opportunity to try it out for next to nothing. You may have noticed that my iced coffee looked that much more tasty in one. Another plus: I add three teaspoons of raw cane sugar, and a dab of half and half to my iced coffee, pop on a lid, and shake ferociously until blended. I can then pack it to go, or remove the lid and enjoy. Genius, no? If that isn’t enough to convince you, check out some ideas […]
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» Continue ReadingWe are all teachers. Some of us have classrooms. Some of us have five yr. olds who want to learn to tie their shoelaces. Whether you are teaching Shakespeare or basic math facts, there are seven simple things to keep in mind. The Seven Laws of Teaching by John Milton Gregory Law 1: The Law of the Teacher A teacher must be one who KNOWS the lesson or truth to be taught. (You’ve gotta know your stuff.) Law 2: The Law of the Learner A learner is one who ATTENDS with interest to the lesson given. (You have to have their attention.) Law 3: The Law of the Language The language used as a MEDIUM between teacher and learner must be COMMON to both. (Use common language.) Law 4: The Law of the Lesson The lesson to be learned must be explicable in the terms of truth already known by […]
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» Continue ReadingIced coffee makes it to my list of top 10 favorite things. Specifically: vietnamese iced coffee, iced caramel macchiato, iced americano, and iced breve. I used to pour a cup of The Preacher’s morning brew over ice, or have him make up an espresso drink if there was extra time. EXTRA TIME. It’s funny to even read those words in print. So as to have strong iced coffee at the ready, I now make it ahead, and keep a pitcher in the fridge. Especially, for those mornings. I thought I’d post how I do it, but really, it’s pretty much all been said already by these lovely ladies: My SIL’s Cold Brew in a French Press Pioneer Woman’s Iced Coffee Annalea Hart’s Iced Coffee Smitten Kitchen’s Cold Brewed Iced Coffee Mocha Coconut Iced Coffee by How Sweet It Is I pretty much follow Pioneer Woman’s recipe, cut in half, and […]
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» Continue ReadingI don’t know which is better: snuggling those sweet cheeks or watching someone else enjoy those sweet cheeks. Either way, there seems to be more than enough deliciousness to go around. I understand, better than ever, what it is to savor and cherish these fleeting moments. How much more so it must be when you are a Grandma. I’m thankful to have had my mom out here last week, and to see it through her eyes…and to know: no matter how old I feel or how grown up life has become…I was her original sweet cheeks.
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» Continue ReadingYesterday my third started kindergarten. Wasn’t it just yesterday he was eating fuzz and thinking that doing dishes was the most fun to be had? Yesterday, he was so proud to be going to school. My house was so quiet with only two. Just me, Number 4, Number 5, and the 2 dogs; I promise: it was eerily calm and silent. Number 4 happily painted with watercolors, while I did some ironing. We read and talked and didn’t over-react to spills and messes. No worries, today is an at-home school day, so everything’s back to usual: not so calm and silent. I will be thankful for this day–this day I get to teach my kids–and choose to focus on the important stuff…and not to over-react to spills and messes. With two or with all five…This is the day the Lord has made, as was yesterday, and will be tomorrow.
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» Continue ReadingThis will not be for everyone. Answer the following questions for me: 1) Do you love coconut macaroons? 2) Do you think the taste and texture of custard is divine? 3) Does 5 minutes prep for homemade pie sound even more divine? If you answered yes to all three, keep reading…I’ve just made your day:
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Hello, friend...I'm Ruth. Welcome to GraceLaced, where you will find my imperfect, but grace-filled musings on the Gospel, motherhood, crafting, art, domesticity, cooking, and the often-times overlooked joys of finding grace in the everyday of life. Read my full profile here.
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