A Rest on Sunday

Yippeeee!!!! My wonderful, clever, techie DH has sorted out my upoading problems, so I'm back in business!

Yesterday I went yarn shopping in Solihull.  Between John Lewis and House of Fraser I managed to find just what I was looking for, some soft, washable cotton yarn in beautiful colours for some technicolour crochet.  Yes, no more black hats and gloves, but this is going to be one big, beautiful granny blanket.  Here's some gorgeous, woolly eye candy.....

I wish you could feel it and give it a good 'squidge' like I can!

I bought yarn from a variety of different brands in order to get exactly the colours I had in mind.  But it will all be fine, as they are all 100% machine washable pure cotton double-knit yarns.  That's one thing I like about crochet, you don't have to match yarns up exactly as you would if you were knitting up a garment.

I really want to get started on this new project, but I have some knitting projects on my needles that I should really finish first!

On Friday, I spent some time at home, so here are some pics from my day, I did some laundry and made some delicious rice pudding.  Here are some of my aprons, fluttering in the breeze...

My Rice Pudding recipe is an old American one.  It is cooked on the stove-top, rather than baked in the oven, and it contains eggs, so it tastes like rice pudding and egg custard mixed together, very nice.

This time I can give you imperial and metric quantities.

Rice Pudding.

1.5 litres / 2 1/2 pints semi-skimmed milk

185 g / 6 ozs pudding rice

125 g / 4 ozs sugar

pinch of salt

250 ml / 8 fl ozs semi-skimmed milk

3 eggs

5 ml / 1 tsp vanilla extract

1.  Combine first four ingredients in a deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan over a medium-low heat.

2.  Let the mixture come to a slow boil (it may foam up, that's ok).  Continue the slow boil (too fast a boil will scorch the milk) for approximately 1 hour, or until almost all the liquid has been absorbed.  The boiling will start making a 'pop' or 'slapping' sound.  When it does, the rice is finished. 

3.  Remove from heat and add the last three ingredients.  Combine well and let it stand for 20 minutes.  Serve warm or chilled.

By a warm fire, on a cold winter's evening, this is very homely and satisfying!  We've had some bacon and eggs for lunch, there is a casserole simmering in the slow cooker for later, and now it's time to put the kettle on, put our feet up, and have some hooky fun.

I do hope you are also able to have a relaxing day, life can often be tiring and stressful, and sometimes we really do need to switch off and remind ourselves that God is in control, not us, so we can safely let Him get on with what He does best, hand everything over to Him and simply enjoy the day He has given to us.

A sunny day

It's lovely and sunny here today, even if it is freezing cold!  I've got laundry blowing in the breeze, I wanted to show you a pic of my aprons on the washing line, but I'm having technical problems uploading pics!  Never mind.

I've done an online shop today, so no need to go out shopping, it will all come to me tomorrow morning.  Lovely thought.

Now that the chores are done, and I've eaten lunch, time for some knitting.

I really like the picture of the old fashioned wool shop on The Quiet Home today.  It reminded me of the wool shop that used to be just a few yards away from the house where I grew up.  There seemed to be one on every street corner in the sixties and seventies. How sad that many of them have disappeared.

It's been a busy old time at work this week, so I appreciate being able to pause today and take stock.

There have been certain things on my prayer list this week, especially a family member who was feeling a little under the weather, and I came across this phrase somewhere:  "God is magnetically drawn to my need".  How wonderful that He not only knows and cares about every little detail of my life, but that God actually has the power to change a situation when I bring it to Him in prayer. This thought has been such a consolation and a blessing to me.  He neither slumbers nor sleeps, and when He says "My peace I give to you", I fin that this is a real, solid peace that nothing and no-one can destroy.  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE...etc.  He is altogether lovely.

Enjoy your day my friend.

A rest on Sunday

"What a splendid day!" said Anne, drawing a long breath.  "Isn't it good just to be alive on a day like this?  I pity the people who aren't born yet for missing it.  They may have good days, of course, but they can never have this one!"

Anne of Green Gables,  Lucy Maud Montgomery.

I am really enjoying reading this book, and I am very happy that I am in contact with L M Montgomery's cousin, who still lives where this book was set.  Thank you Kathie for getting in touch with me. 

Today we have enjoyed a lovely lunch, that I popped into the slow cooker early this morning.  Onions, bacon and mushrooms browned, pork steaks grilled, carrots and parsnips chopped, then everything added to the crock-pot with 500ml of cider and a can of lovely, velvety mushroom soup for good measure. No recipe required, simple!

I also copied my daughter's idea and scrubbed and halved some new potatoes and put these at the bottom of the cooker, so no need to cook any potatoes seperately, very easy, just the way I like it!

Then I simply put some yorkshire puddings in the oven and boiled some broccoli.

Then lit some candles and made everything cosy and homely for a lovely, relaxing Sunday lunch.

Then eldest son very kindly agreed to model the beanie hat and gloves I have been knitting.

The patterns were given to me by my sister, who has won awards for her knitting. In fact, if knitting was a martial art, my sister would be a blackbelt!

There's not much colour here, because he wanted them in black, so I am looking forward to buying some yarn next weekend, and indulging in some technicolour crochet.  Watch this space! 

"Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens.  I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."  Jesus.  Matthew 11:28-30.

The caring lovingkindness of God towards me and towards others is a continual source of amazement to me.  That He, the Creator of all life and the Universe could be so personal, so tender, so thoughtful, so kind and so caring that my heart runs to Him for refuge, shelter, security, and He never fails me, because He is all Love, from first to last.  He knows how many hairs are on my head, and I find in Him a sweet haven of companionship, of understanding, of comfort and of rest.

Enjoy a restful Sunday my friend.

Time at home.

Yesterday, I didn't need to go into work until the afternoon, so I enjoyed a little pottering time, cleaning things and polishing, and rearranging, all very satisfying.

I started in the kitchen, wiping down to the strains of Classic FM.

Then I gave my latest purchase a quick rub to make it shine!

Do you like my Wedgewood bud vases?!  The one on the left was a Christmas present from a friend about 30 years ago.  The one on the right was recently bought from a charity shop for 99p.  I thought they would look good together, and the price was a bargain for Wedgewood.  If I pull out a little, you will spot yet another bookcase in my rather bookish home!

Then I plumped up my cushions.  I crocheted this cover just before Christmas, with some help from the Attic 24 blog.

This is the back of it.

The buttons are very old ones from my mother-in-law's button box that was passed on to me when she died.

I was also given all her knitting needles and crochet hooks, as well as a lovely knitting bag.  I use them all regularly and think of her when I do.  She would have liked to know they were being well used.

When I got to work, we had a meeting, which meant a rare opportunity to meet up with some of my colleagues, as we all work in different places.  It was lovely to catch up with everybody and have a chat/moan/laugh about work!

After a spot of shopping I came home to a lovely sunset.  This was the view from my attic.  A colourful end to a happy day.

 

Determination

If you are lacking in determination in any area of your life today, this video may give you the motivation to do something.  I have never really done much quilting before, but after watching this video I feel determined to have a go!

Isn't she amazing?!  Today I went out with one of my old students, who is also blind, who managed to follow up getting a good degree with holding down a good job.  She is an inspiration to me, not only because is she full of determination, but also because she also manages to be cheerful, and to have a sense of humour, whatever else is going on around her, and whatever challenges she faces.  It was really good to catch up with her.  I know she will follow her dreams.

I am currently reading Anne of Green Gables (as well as trekking through Middlemarch!) which is by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I read about her books at Lanier's Books.  This is a marvellous blog if you are at all interested in old books.  Lanier writes a good review of L M Mongomery here.  While researching Montgomery, I came across this lovely poem, ideal for a restful Sunday.

Come, Rest Awhile

Come, rest awhile, and let us idly stray,

In glimmering valleys, cool and far away.

Come from the greedy mart, the troubled street,

And listen to the music, faint and sweet.

That echoes ever to a listening ear,

Unheard by those who will not pause to hear

The wayward chimes of memory's pensive bells,

Wind blown o'er misty hills and curtained dells.

One step aside and dewy buds unclose

The sweetness of the violet and the rose;

Song and romance still linger in the green,

Enblossomed ways by you so seldom seen.

And near at hand, would you but see them, lie

All lovely things beloved in days gone by.

You have forgotten what it is to smile

In your too busy life, come, rest awhile.

Lucy Maud Montgomery.

May you have a restful day, whatever you do, wherever you go and whoever you are with, may you rest well, inside and out, on this peacefull January Sunday, my friend.

In hot water!

This morning, I was very happy to see our plumber walking up the drive.  Our hot water supply has been intermittent for a few weeks.  He came and diagnosed the problem last week, and at last the offending part has been replaced.  I'm looking forward to a nice deep, hot bath tonight.

(Google images)

This is not actually my bath, although mine is the same size and shape.  In fact, I now feel inspired to dig out all the candles leftover from Christmas, and the Sanctuary toiletries given to me by my lovely sister-in-love, and hang some fluffy towels on the radiator to get nice and warm, and put my dab radio onto Classic fm.  Oh yes, I'm looking forward to bath-time tonight.

I will lie in the bath and think about those wonderful 'cleansing' Bible verses, such as "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9),  and "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin" (verse 7).

"The Word of God is the water that washes us. Ephesians 5:26 says, “Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

The word ‘washing’ in this Scripture is the Greek word, loutron (the verb is louo) and it means, “to take a bath, to wash the whole body and not just a part of it.” It speaks metaphorically of washing every part of the inward man—our heart, soul, spirit, mind and emotions. It’s a whole bath, not just a face wash.

I find that if I do not personally read God’s Word each day that sin can build up in my life and I am not even aware of it. But when I read the Word, the Holy Spirit reveals the things that grieve Him and which pollute my soul. I am convicted to repent and cast them from my life so I can keep my inward man clean. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (From Above Rubies.  http://www.aboverubies.com/)

Above Rubies is a lovely website that I heartily recommend.

Today, I have stayed indoors, as the rain pattered on the window pane, and I had a knitting day.  I've knitted my second beanie hat of the winter, this time for eldest son.  Now I am knitting youngest son some fingerless gloves, to pop into a little parcel for him, and to let him know we haven't forgetten him entirely!  I had better do some crochet too, or my crochet hook may start to feel neglected and overlooked!

I'll get my camera out later and take some pics of my work-in-progress for you to see.

Have a lovely weekend my friend, and take some time out to pamper yourself.

A Lovely Day

Today I finished work a little early and had time to walk to the wool shop and buy eight balls of the softest, scrummiest merino wool to knit a little coat as a present for someone.  I made a start on it as soon as I arrived home.  It's so soft and lovely, it practically knits itself. I felt cosy, sitting by the fire with my needles.

I've been reading "Candles in the Dark" by Amy Carmichael this week.  She was a missionary in India for 55 years, and in all those years she never returned home to the UK for a break.  She opened an orphanage and a mission there, where many children were loved and cared for over the years.  They were rescued from either death or a life of prostitution.  Children were always close to her heart.  I read this lovely piece of prose, to be taken to heart by every mother, grandmother, auntie and by every mother to be.

"To a young mother.  This morning, I was reading in Luke, and as I read of the angels' joy over the birth of our Saviour and thought of their joy over everyone born again into the Kingdom, I felt sure they rejoice over every precious little life born into a family of true lovers of our Lord.  And I thought how to each little one an angel is given.  How little we know of these heavenly things, but I do like to think of the angel prepared for your little treasure and, above all, to think of what has been prepared for that little one 'before the foundation of the world'.  How much more there is in a baby than just sweetness and the appealing innocence of baby days.  All the great thoughts of God lie behind that little life, all the great purposes.  Ephesians chapters 1 and 2 tell of these.  The more one ponders, the more one wonders."

May you have opportunities to phone, visit, or even give a hug to those who are precious to you.

It made me think also about youngest son, back at university now for another term.  On Monday morning, when I was praying for him, God gave me these wonderful words, as if they were printed in gold, just for me.

"Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall."

Instead of 'burdens', I inserted the names of my children here, as I prayed for them, and had a real sense of God protecting each one of them - and their parents!

God bless you my friend.

A trip to York

Last weekend, we took youngest son back to University, and  had some fun in beautiful York.  The weather was unbelievably sunny, although a bit cold and windy, and we did some lovely 'touristy' things.

We walked around the Minster.......

It really was as sunny as it looks.  The above pic is a view from the Roman Walls.

We walked along the Shambles, which date back to the 14th century.  The shops seem unreal, like wandering into fairyland.

We had some retail therapy, in the form of bookshops.  I bought some lovely old books from Oxfam books.

I can't wait to a start reading these, but I need to finish Middlemarch first, and I'm not even halfway through yet!

This is the timber-framed National Trust shop...

There are lots of shops and buildings just like this in York.

Then we went to Betty's Tea Rooms, one of the most wonderful tea rooms in the world.  We stocked up on our supplies of Betty's Earl Grey tea.

Betty's tea shop is a wonderful building.

This is Betty's flagship cafe, inspired in the 1930's by the RMS Queen Mary cruise liner.

It's wildly expensive, a cup of tea starts at about £3, and the atmosphere is very traditional, but that's what makes Betty's so fabulous and unique.  I love it!

I can't take you all to Betty's, so instead I will give you a recipe for Fat Rascals, which are Betty's most famous cakes.

Fat Rascals

8 oz Self-Raising flour
half tsp. salt
4 oz lard
3 oz caster sugar
2 oz currants
1 oz sultanas
1 egg, beaten
milk to mix.

Pre-heat the oven to 425F or Mark 7.  Grease baking sheets.  Sift the flour and salt together in a bowl and rub in the lard until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.  Stir in the sugar, currants and sultanas and mix to a soft dough with the beaten egg and a little milk if necessary.  Transfer to a lightly floured surface and roll or press out to a good half inch thick and cut into 2 and a half inch rounds with a cutter.  Place apart on the baking sheet and bake for about 10 to 15 minutes until golden.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool.  Eat fresh with butter.  Makes about 12 scones. 

These cost about £3 each at Betty's, so you can save a lot of money and bake yourself a treat by making them at home!

Today I have been back at work, which was a shock to the system after a three week holiday.  I got up early, got ready, drove to the Park and Ride bus stop, then a quick bus journey to my loooong working day.  It has been lovely to spend time at home, being with my family, cooking and baking, knitting, crocheting, reading, doing all the things I enjoy!  I do like my work though, it's very rewarding and I work with great people.

Thank you so much to everyone who takes the time to read these pages, and especially to those of you who take he trouble to send a kind word in an encouraging comment.

I may not be blogging quite so often for the next few weeks, but please do drop by and say hello.

Chocolate Crunch!

I won't be signing in tomorrow, as I'll be busy helping youngest son prepare for his return to university.  We are having a very happy, busy Saturday here.  The sun has been shining and I've pegged shirts and pillowcases outside on the washing line for the first time this year.  They smell heavenly. 

We had a big fry-up for lunch - bacon, sausages, eggs, beans, toast, the whole works!  Five of us ate together, DH and I, both sons and DH's sister, it was a lovely family feast around the table.  Then I baked a batch of Chocolate Crunches for my son to take back to uni with him.  In fact, he always take a boxfull with him, I think his housemates would be disappointed if he didn't now!

I've had this Chocolate Crunch recipe for many years.  They are quick, easy and inexpensive to bake, and everybody loves them.

Chocolate Crunch

Ingredients:

10 ozs margarine
10ozs sugar
14 ozs flour
1 oz cocoa
A splash of good vanilla essence

Method:

1.  Melt margarine gently in a saucepan and add vanilla essence.

2.  Mix the sugar, cocoa and flour in a large bowl and add the melted margarine.

The big, muscly hands in this pic belong to youngest son, they're not mine!  He's my kitchen assistant when he's at home!

At this stage, the mixture tastes gorgeous, irresistable, as you can see!

3.  Press into a greased swiss roll tin about half an inch thick.

4.  Brush the top with water and sprinkle with sugar.

5.  Bake at Gas Mark 4, 180C or 360F for 20 minutes.

6.  Cut into squares while warm, but leave to cool in the tin.

As soon as they are cool, they can be easily boxed up and taken anywhere.



I often increase the quantities stated, today I have increased all the ingredients by 50% to ensure there will be plenty to go around the whole houseful of hungry students!

Do try this recipe, it's so simple, and yet everyone will think you are so clever! 

Here are some Restful Thoughts for you to think about tomorrow, while I am away from blogland. 

"If you know the love of Jesus - as the deer pants for streams of water (Psalm 42) - so you will pant for deeper draughts of His love.  Absence from Christ is hell; but the presence of Jesus is heaven.  Rest not then content without an increasing acquaintance with Jesus.  Seek to know more of Him in His divine nature, in His human relationship, in His finished work, in His death, in His resurrection, in His present, glorious intercession, and in His future, royal advent.  Abide hard by the cross, and search the mystery of His wounds.  An increase of love to Jesus, and a more perfect apprehension of His love to us is one of the best tests of growth in grace."  (C. H. Spurgeon)

II Peter 3:18 "Grow in the grace and knowlege of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"

If you love to read Spurgeon too, you can go here to read more like this every day.

I love Spurgeon's writings, and as two of my loved ones are members of a church he planted, I feel practically related to him!

Enjoy your weekend my friend.

The Gift

When my 21st birthday was approaching, many years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, my husband wanted to buy me a gift that I could keep for always.

I wasn't bothered about jewellery, I had a bright, shiny new wedding ring, which
 represented all the happiness in my heart.

After some thought and a little shopping, I decided I would like a Royal Doulton bone china cup and saucer, to start a tea set that could grow over the years.  The design I chose was called 'Flirtation', and it was commissioned in 1976.  My lovely husband bought me TWO cups and saucers, which I loved.

For every birthday and Christmas after that year, for several years, family members always knew what I wanted, another addition to my tea set.  By 1988, I had eight cups, saucers and tea-plates, a large sandwich plate and a milk jug.

By this time, we were living in Paris.  The tea set had been lovingly wrapped in tissue paper and was residing in a friend's attic, awaiting a future time when it would be used.  However, I wanted to complete the set

I really wanted the sweet little lidded sugar bowl to complete my tea set!  It wasn't available in Paris, so when my birthday approached, my husband rang family in England and asked them to buy the sugar bowl and keep it for me.

It was quite a while before we were back in the UK again and I was able to enjoy my gift.  As I unwrapped it with trembling fingers, my heart took a deep lurch - this was NOT what I had asked for. 

Instead of getting the sugar bowl, somewhere along the line the wires had got crossed, and I ended up with another milk jug  :(

By the time we were living back in the UK for good, we had two lively children, with no respect for fine china!  So the uncompleted tea set was placed in a cupboard and hardly ever used, only on high days and holidays.  Whenever I brought it out, I always explained to friends why we had the two jugs, and I had a story to tell at my husband's expense!

We have contacted several china search companies over the years, but they seemed very expensive.  But THIS YEAR, thanks to the wonders of eBay, my wonderful husband has finally, 23 years after buying that second jug, managed to track down my long-awaited sugar bowl, and I love it!  Here is the full tea-set, still with two jugs!

And for pure eye candy, here is a delicious close up of my new sugar bowl...

Do you think it was worth waiting 23 years for?  I do, and I love it.  Also, those children - and the third one who followed later! - are all grown up now, so I can get the tea set out and use it as often as I like, and I fully intend to!

My husband is happy, because I can't use this story against him any more, in fact he comes out of this story very well, doesn't he?!

Thank you for rising to my challenge, and thank you for all your kind comments.  I hope my story was worth the wait. 

Brenda has a lot more lovely china eye candy here.

Today I am savouring the last few hours with youngest son before he goes back to university, so we will be out and about, just enjoying each other's company, as well as making sure all his clothes etc. are packed.  I'm ironing his clothes the best I can, knowing they will probably not see an iron again until the next time he comes home!

Enjoy your day, and enjoy the company of any family and friends you have the privilege of spending time with today.  

The challenge

I thought it would be good to expand a little on yesterday's post.

One thing I really enjoy reading is 'Cosy Books'.  There is a brilliant list of suggested cosy reads compiled by Brenda over at Coffee, Tea, Books and Me right here.
In fact her whole blog is a really cosy read in itself.

Another thing I wanted to add from yesterday, remember the mirror?

Yesterday I said look in the mirror and see yourself, a fellow blogger, you are one of the writers I love to read. 

Well, today I want to expand on that.  If you are looking in this mirror and reading my Letters From Home, then you are a wonderful source of encouragement. I know from my stats that this page is being read in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and other countries. How amazing is that!

But here is the challenge.  Recently, I celebrated a birthday.  I received beautiful flowers that make my heart sing.....

And a lovely Birthday Cake.....

(Google images)

Not actually this one, mine had a LOT more candles on it!  Anyway, I also received a very special gift from my husband that I had been hoping and waiting for for 23 years!  Yes, you read that right, 23 years!  In fact I had sometimes given up hope.

Now for the challenge.  I have put together a post all about this special gift, with pictures of it, and it tells the funny story of why I had to wait for it so long.  HOWEVER, I have decided not to post this particular story unless I receive 5 comments, not including the comments I post myself!

So if you are reading this and are intrigued by my little story, please be sweet and leave a little comment.  You don't need to be a blogger yourself in order to comment.  Just say 'Hi' and brighten my day.  You will be rewarded with my funny birthday story. 

And if you would like to recommend some good books yourself, that will be even better!  I look forward to reading your recommendations.

Thank you so much!

Review of 2010: Books and Reading

No review of 2010 could be complete without mentioning what I've been reading.

First of all, my Bible. 

The very best and best-loved of books.  It was written by over 40 different people, over 1500 years, in different countries, time-zones and languages, and in different genres such as law, poetry, history, prophecy and narrative, and yet study reveals the Bible to be entirely consistent in every part.  God has mercifully given us a book that provides "the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 3:15)  By reading this Book, we may learn what to believe, what to be, and what to do; how to live with comfort, and how to die in peace. 

I bought this bookmark - one of my favourites - from the Priory Church at Bolton Abbey near Skipton, during our summer holiday, when I met Lucy from Attic 24

And then on to books.  My all-time favourite books are those written by Miss Read.  Miss Read, real name Dora Saint was born in 1913, and had books published most years from 1955 up to the late 1990's.  Over the years I've been collecting her books, and now I have all her novels and a few other of her books too on my bookshelf.

This is only some of them!  I have a lot more in my bedroom, and have some of them on cd or tape too.

A wider shot of our bookshelves...



Other fictional works that stood out for me in 2010 are 'Hearts and Minds' by Amanda Craig (the children's fiction reviewer of The Times) and 'The Help' by Kathryn Stockett.  I recommend them both to you.

I also love to read magazines from time to time, such as Country Living, and then another area of reading that provides me with much joy, refreshment and great interest is here...

Yes, look into the mirror my friend, I mean all your wonderful, inspiring, entertaining blogs!  Thank you for cheering my days!

Christ-centred Motherhood.

I've just been listening this morning to a sermon by John Piper on Christ-centred motherhood here.  It is very different to any other approach towards motherhood.  He says:
"Remembering the character of your godly mother is a great incentive to holding fast to the scriptures she taught you. Let’s read it so you can see this. 2 Timothy Chapter 3, Verse 14: “But as for you [Timothy], continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed”—that is, don’t give up your faith, don’t give up the scriptures, don’t give up your salvation. Then comes these crucial words referring back to Eunice and Lois: “knowing from whom you learned it.”

"In other words, Timothy, one of the ways—not the only way—one of the ways to strengthen your faith and persevere through hard times and not give up on the scriptures is to remember who introduced you to word of God and the way of salvation. Remember your mother, and your grandmother."

"So let’s make very clear: the apostle of Jesus Christ in this text bestows on motherhood and grandmotherhood a great honor. You have a calling that can become the long-remembered ground of faith, not just for your children—mark this—but for the untold numbers who will be affected by your children. And that’s in addition to all the other thousands of ripple effects of faith in your life."

John Piper ends his sermon with this lovely definition of home management:

"Home-management-  the creation of a beautiful and simple place and living organism which becomes a refuge of Christ’s peace and launching pad for God’s righteousness."

What a noble goal, to create a refuge of Christ's peace and a launching pad for god's righteousness in our busy, harried world.

Have a lovely day my friend.