Assumptions and Presumptions

I hate it when people make assumptions about what I'm doing or why I'm doing it.

Given the life I live, which isn't quite what most Christian young women my age are doing, I've been given lectures and rebukes and disapproving looks plenty of times from well-meaning friends. It seems like most of the time when someone has actually said something, those were the times when I didn't need a rebuke! Those were the times that I actually felt confident that I was doing what God wanted me to or the times when I was doing exactly what I could and should to the best of my abilities. On the other hand, there have been plenty of times when a loving rebuke would have been quite appropriate and no one said anything!

I'll never forget the time when a friend rebuked me for something it looked like I had been doing. In actuality, what I was accused of had not even crossed my mind. I was shocked and hurt. What?! I was too embarrassed to even try to defend myself and explain what the situation really was. But it taught me a lesson to think not once, not twice, but several times before I decide to correct someone or presume upon their motives.

Well, I thought I had learned that lesson.

I recently found myself greatly humbled when I realized that I had presumed on a friend's very noble motives.

To me, it looked like this friend was motivated by a great deal of pride and selfishness in several major decisions that they had made. This wasn't one of those situations where one should just not form an opinion because one doesn't know the whole story. No, indeed - in this situation things looked very obvious. It appeared that such choices could have no other root than selfishness itself. This person even made several comments about why they were doing such things, and it confirmed what I had suspected.

I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about my friend's motives or worrying about their choices for life, but when someone else commented on what a sad choice this person had made, I agreed and added something about unselfishness being a virtue of which most people have much to learn.

And then I heard something from someone else. This friend was making these choices, not because they wanted to or would have chose such a course for themselves, but out of honor to parents who wanted something different. And they hadn't wanted anyone to criticize or dishonor their parents, so they had done the best they could to take responsibility for what they were doing and move forward, trying to enjoy what they were embarking upon.

I was speechless...

I hope I'll remember for a long, long time that even if it looks like I see the whole picture, I probably don't.

Esteeming others as better than myself means that I will be more likely to dismiss their shortcomings and errors and make excuses for what they do that I would my very own self!

Ummm... I have a long way to go!

Those Blessed Books!

I'm finally, finally studying for the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM) exam that is one of the final steps towards becoming a Certified Professional Midwife!

I've dearly wanted to study for the past four years, but my obligations at the Capitol have had to come first, so I've barely cracked a book in years.

But now we've legalized the midwives in Missouri, so I can really and truly become one! I can't wait!

Since I am now free to study, I am trying to carefully guard a few hours of day to do just that. Some days tomato canning consumes the whole day, but other days I actually retreat to my bedroom and pile of books. I don't usually get as much done as I aim for, but it feels wonderful just to be sitting in a pile of books and papers and folders and forms!

Teratogenic effects of drugs, neonatal infections, placental sufficiency, sickle cell traits, endometritis, cystoceles, rectoceles, fetal tachycardia in labor.... and even words like suboccipitobregmatic diameter... All of these need to be far more than words and definitions in my head.

I'm learning again... finally. And I love it!

I hope I am sitting for the NARM exam next August and a CPM by the end of next year!

The Eternal, Unchanging God

Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
“Return, ye sons of men:”
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.

The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.

Time, like an ever rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

Like flowery fields the nations stand
Pleased with the morning light;
The flowers beneath the mower’s hand
Lie withering ere ‘tis night.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

-Isaac Watts (1719)

"You are as holy as you want to be."

This past week I've been thinking often of Keith Daniel's saying, 

"You are as holy as you want to be."

Yes, people can disagree with that statement, or clarify, or whatever. (And, yes, I know that it is only by God's grace that we can do anything right... that's the other side of the coin, but not what I'm posting about tonight!)

That statement is far more true than many of us would like to admit. We lament because we have habitual sins in our life that we haven't conquered, because we just keep having the wrong priorities, etc...
The truth is, usually we don't want personal holiness bad enough.

People decide to go to college and get a degree. Many don't want it that badly, and they quit short of the goal. But for many, it doesn't matter what obstacles land in their way or how unfairly life treats them - their eyes are fixed on the goal  - and they do it! I could think of numerous examples of people who are determined to do something, regardless of the pain, sacrifice, cost, and discomfort but set their mind to who/what they want to be and do it!

Many Christians talk about stopping their anger or bitterness or lust or pride or immodesty or dishonesty or slander or dishonor of authority... or throwing away those magazines, that music, whatever brings them back to sin. They really do want to stop it. But they don't want to bad enough. So they don't quit or they just stick the music or magazines under the bed for awhile to pacify their conscience.

I know, because sometimes that's me. Impatient with a little sister again, I want to repent, confess it, and do better next time. But did I need to act that way this time? No.

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he, the Bible says. I am a goal-oriented person. I make and follow to-do lists, and I prioritize what I want most to get done each day. I don't always get everything done that I want to, but I try hard, because it matters to me.

Does being holy tomorrow matter to me? Of course, it matters. But does it matter enough to make it to the top of my list, above all of my other goals?

My personal holiness depends on how bad I want it. I have no other excuse for my life. 

Piety

Above:
All of the girls together, plus an extra - our friend, Suzanne

Tonight at our ladies' Bible study/prayer group, we found ourselves discussing a chapter out of an old book that we had read. The book talked about the need for young women to cultivate piety in their lives.

Hmmm... Piety. That's kind of an old-fashioned word. What does that mean? we all wondered.

So, we pulled out Webster's 1828 dictionary. I found a lot of food for thought.

Piety 1.) Piety in principle, is a compound of veneration or reverence of the Supreme Being and love of His character, or veneration accompanied with love; and piety in practice, is the exercise of these affections in obedience to His will and devotion to his service. 2.) Reverence of parents or friends, accompanied with affection and devotion to their honor and happiness. Piety is the only proper and adequate relief of decaying man.

"...love of His character..."

I thought back to a recent visit with my friend who I was trying to explain something to. I knew that she doesn't believe what I do. I was trying to explain a Biblical doctrine to her that she had asked about. She is someone who has always had a very negative view of God, and is finally taking baby steps towards recognizing that God is God and He is good, and he deserves her respect and love whether or not she likes everything that He does. These concepts seem so hard for her to grasp. She seems so easily offended by the hard truths of the Bible, and yet little by little, I see her mind opening to truth, even hard truth, a tiny bit at a time.

So, I explained the part she had asked about. I carefully avoided getting into another related subject, knowing that it probably wouldn't go over well if I told it to her like it is. She would need the "mild" version or would need to wait for another day to hear all of those hard truths... so I didn't even go down that trail with her.

But, I stopped myself this evening. I should have a love of God's character. If I LOVE God's character, why would I cringe to tell her everything of God's character? Why would I think that perhaps she wasn't ready for all of this just yet?

Somehow I believed that my human character could better portray the Truth than the way GOD said it?

I stand convicted.

I must love God's character enough to tell it like it is unabashedly not just to most, but even to my most sensitive friends.

God's character is good, through and through. There is no reason to hold any of it back.

It's GOOD. I should LOVE it! If I love it, I will find it strange if other people find it offensive.

Stuff that happens to people with too many veggies

Ever heard of Veggie Tales?

I've never voluntarily watched them, but this week, Veggie Tales started happening in my very own living room - live!

I'm afraid that some family members and close friends have experienced too much vegetable saturation in recent weeks.

They are now attending Veggaholics Anonymous, so for that reason they also will remain unnamed in this post. But enjoy the picture. This is called therapy, when you are hot and just plain tired of cutting up tomatoes. And can't think of any other way to maintain a good attitude....

(They highly recommend this type of therapy, by the way.)

Baked Squash Casserole

Just in case you have an abundance of squash, here's something new for your menu...

Baked Squash Casserole

8 medium yellow squash, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1 cup cracker crumbs or dry bread crumbs
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cook squash and onion in a small amount of water for 5-7 minutes. Drain well. Cream squash in food processor, blender or mixer. Combine squash mixture with remaining ingredients. Mix well and spoon into lightly greased casserole dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Makes: 8 servings

If you like to waltz with tomatoes....

The tomato production around here is... insane! We've been canning dozens and dozens of quarts of spaghetti sauce almost every day of the week!

Mom and I started picking tomatoes before 8 am this morning. We brought one van load home to the other girls, who started processing, then we went back to the garden, and picked a few more bushels, only to return around lunch time to the whole house covered in tomatoes. (All the pictures for this post were taken today.)

Tomato sorting -
This one to process immediately...
This one to ripen for tomorrow...
This one to sell...

Steve making tomato paste...

Liz and Joanna, busy with spaghetti sauce in the makings...

Dad just finished screening in our back deck and turning it into a summer canning kitchen! YEAH! Now instead of heating our whole house while we cook down things like spaghetti and apple sauce, pots can be simmering on the wood stove out there. The thermometer read 117 degrees out there when this picture was taken!

And now it's 12:20 am... There are 54 quarts of spaghetti sauce cooling on the counter and another 20 quarts still simmering. We'll finish those first thing in the morning... And hopefully we'll also sell the 8 crates of nicer tomatoes stacked in my office!

Liz wants me to remind anyone reading that you are always most welcome to show up with a couple extra kettles and a paring knife! : ) We can't promise to look impressive or be in the best mood, but we'll be thankful you arrived!

If only we were vegetarian...

Seriously, if we were vegetarians, we'd probably think that we were in Paradise! The amount of produce to harvest, to process, to EAT is astounding! We feel overwhelmed with work, but we know that we are blessed! And we're gladly trading help with harvesting and processing for a share in the bounty! Anybody want to spend a day digging carrots? Or winnowing wheat?

There are always new ways to do things at our house.
Above: Liz and Julia (a neighbor girl) picking peaches from 'Zaiah's backhoe scoop!

The beginnings of peach preserves

Our onions usually do well. So we planted a lot.
Well, this year they did better than usual, so we have onions drying in long, long rows
in one of the neighbor's 250 ft. long barns!
And when we get bored, we sit around and make onion braids...

We've discovered a solution to part of our produce "problem" - a local Amish produce auction where they sell your produce to grocers, etc for a small commission. We also find it a good way to acquire some of the items that we didn't plant this year (like zucchini!). We took half a car load of produce to get rid of and came back with a car stuffed from floor to ceiling, plus an extra $100 to boot! Who can resist a case of 25 organic eggplants for $3.00? Or 50 organic bell peppers for $4.00? (Now that our 600 bell pepper plants are producing, I know better than to think we'd ever need to buy another pepper!!)

... And then there's watermelon. For as long as I can remember, watermelon was a special summer treat we had a few times a year. This year, the Anchor boys' home that my brothers work for decided that they would plant a field of watermelon for the boys to work in! That results in 'Zaiah's red truck pulling up each week with 300 watermelons on it. After unloading them in a huge pile in the basement, he smiles as he drives away saying, "Well, I hope that you can figure out where to sell them this week... I'll bring another load next week!" So we sell watermelons to grocery stores, and neighbors, and at the auction, and... then when nobody else wants to buy them and another load is about to arrive, we all have generous pieces!

(Above: When Sam's friend, Ben came to stay for a week and help us in the garden, they decided that they would each try to eat a whole 25 pound watermelon a day! They came close to reaching their goals. Needless to say, for once, they didn't need much lunch!)

Hay Balin'

Among the many, many things needing to be done around the farm, one of the most important is putting up the hay - cutting it, raking it, baling it, picking it up in the field, stacking it in the barn...
It becomes an all around family affair to get the hay done, as we all pray for the rain to wait just till it's all inside the barn!

It's about 100 degrees, but as long as you work fast enough, you don't notice!
Yeah, right!

Everyone is hot, prickly, sweaty, and ready to be DONE!
To be completely honest, I wasn't home this day, so I did not experience it, but I heard plenty about it when I got back!

Jemima managed to paste a smile on for the picture!

Sun is setting... hurry, Sam! Let's get the last of the hay in!

Don't ask me who had the time to capture the moment in photographs...
but I suspect it was Liz or Ruth!