Help Thou Mine Unbelief

Lord, I believe. Help Thou mine unbelief

I am a firm believer that the Lord is more patient, understanding and loving toward us than the Natural Man. Lucky for us. When it is far easier for Natural Man to place themselves on the pedestals of their own strengths, it is a marvelous gift to be able to see the best in others, and lovingly encourage them through their weak areas.

As I finish this year and begin the next with uncertainty, discouragement, and degradation by those who are strong where I am weak, I am comforted by my God, who tells me, “You have done everything I have ever asked of you. I will not abandon you.” I need not listen to, nor worry about Man. He gives me a night of His peace when I am pushed too far, and I come to understand the phrase, “Sleep in heavenly peace.”

He counsels me, “Stand still and let Me provide the means..” Stand still.

Trust Him? Believe Him? Breathe?

Lord, I believe. Help Thou mine unbelief.

Elephant Stew

I found this stew while looking through the recipes of my Grandmother, Virginia Grace Jewett Wickline

ELEPHANT STEW

1 elephant,medium sized

2 rabbits, optional

Cut elephant into bite-sized pieces. This should take about 2 months. Add enough brown gravy to cover. Cook over kerosene about 4 weeks at 465 degrees. This will serve about 3800 people. If more are expected, two rabbits may be added, but do this only if necessary, as most people do not like to find hare in their stew.

Katie Rocks On, Still

Katie, our resident artist,

is making wonderful things again.

She takes rock painting books out of the library and makes her creations.

A fox

I especially love the details on the face here

Katie paid special attention to feather detail on the parrott

and it's back

The Big Green Beast Has Returned

The Big Green Beast Has Returned

WEll, at first my mechanic (who helps me for free) couldn't find ANYTHING wrong with my van. No broken hoses, no holes..antifreeze still in the anti-freeze tank, but anti-freeze had sprayed absolutely EVERYWHERE!! They filled the anti-freeze tank to the fill line (which I know the tank does not like--prefers to be filled half way to fill line) They, my mechanic and another family friend drove it around and it didn't smoke or steam or spray more around inside...you know how it goes when the mechanic gets there. They drove it home totally perplexed, having decided to add a quart of Stop Leak, but just weren't sure why there was such a big mess everywhere and what caused the smoking. Well I mentioned that I find anti-freeze bubbling in the middle of the radiator when I open the hood when it's hot, so mechanic grabbed a flashlight (it was dark by then) and yup, there it was, a crack along a seam line in the radiator, bubbling, and then he found another crack. (I guess this was important information to give him in the first place, huh?) Stop Leak won't help that. But from my mechanically impaired understanding, he still is perplexed why it suddenly sent anti-freeze flying everywhere that one time and not again. He understands why I was smoking so bad, with the anti-freeze going all over the engine and manifold. He feels the extreme cold weather had something to do with this. So, since there was still anti-freeze in the anti-freeze tank, there is apparently no damage, my engine temp gauges had not registered a problem, I was just building up pressure in the radiator and it went flying and it was burning on the hot engine. I did the right thing, my mechanic said, stopping when I did, even though I could have continued without any damage. My mechanic prefers I stop if there is a problem than to keep going and possibly make things worse. But, if I'm smoking, I'm gonna stop. I can still drive it, he says, until he finds me a replacement radiator, just watch my gauges and don't drive it very far without checking my anti-freeze level. Well, I don't drive the beast very far anyway, so I should be good.

Blondies with Chocolate Chips

by Mary Wockenfuss

2 cups packed brown sugar
2/3 cup extra light olive oil
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp butter and nut flavoring (or 2 tsp vanilla)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
1 cup Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips


1. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside. In a medium bowl, mix brown sugar and olive oil. Stir in eggs one at a time; stir in vanilla. Stir in flour, baking powder and baking soda. Stir in chocolate chips.
2. Spread batter in prepared baking pan. Bake in a 350° oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.

Bubbles of Fun

While Mom and I were out Christmas shopping today, I set the ganglings to the task of washing down their bedroom doors and around the rest of our home. Patrick called me on the cell phone to tell me they were now out of the spray cleaner, so I told him to use some Dawn dish soap and water in a bucket. I am always amazed at the fun they can make with what they have.

Who needs a Cat in a Hat?

Home Made Somoas

Homemade Samoas

courtesy of Linda Nooner

If you love the Somas offered by Girl Scouts, here is a recipe that allows you to have them all year round. A friend of mine makes these and was gracious enough to give out the recipe. WIth her permission, I put it out there to the world.

Dip the bottoms of 24 shortbread cookies in melted chocolate. Cool till hardened then place in greased muffin tins.
In a sauce pan, combine:

6 T butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup white corn syrup.

Heat to a boil, stirring constantly for 3 minutes.

Slowly pour 1/2 cup Eagle Brand Milk into mixture, stirring constantly until it reaches 200 degrees or becomes bubbly and thick.
Remove from heat and add 1/2 tsp vanilla. Beat until creamy then add 4 cups toasted coconut. Spoon over cookies; cool, remove from muffin tin and drizzle melted chocolate over (maybe 1 cup melted chocolate chips). Yum!!