&nbsp;

Frugally Sustainable
Raising Homemakers
Far Above Rubies
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Wholehearted Home
Growing Home

Courtship Connection
Living In the Shoe
Homemaking Linkup
A Proverbs 31 Wife
All Things With a Purpose

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Tuesday's Gifts ~ Heart Trusting

I am Thankful for the opportunity to Believe.
To Believe in God's Provision in spite of my questioning Mind.

Who provides for the raven its prey,
when its young ones cry to God,
and wander about for lack of food? ~Job 38:41

⁹He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. ~Psalms 147:9

Thankful for my growing Faith.

For Curbing my Will to His.

Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! ~Luke 12:24

Even the sparrow finds a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
    my King and my God. ~Psalms 84:3

Thanking Him for His patience.

While I learn to let my heart Trust.

³¹He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; ³²it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” ~Matthew 13: 31-32

Oh! that I would trust with my heart so that I may find rest! Home in those branches with the warm sun-dappled light peeking through those green leafy arms.

What a promised gift to be thankful for.

Always Blessed,

Gretchen :)

All pictures are courtesy of my sister, Sara Rose Nissen.

Check out her artwork over at as seen through my eyes. :)

Possibly Linking With:

Frugally Sustainable
Raising Homemakers
Far Above Rubies
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Wholehearted Home
Growing Home

Courtship Connection
Living In the Shoe
Homemaking Linkup Weekend
A Proverbs 31 Wife
All Things With a Purpose

Friday, February 8, 2013

Purple Fur and the Silver Moons

This morning on my way to drop Princess Peony off at school we passed this group of youngsters trudging through inches of snow on a not yet shoveled sidewalk. One of those boys was dressed in an extremely out-of-date snowsuit. I could almost see the silver belt buckle in front that screamed 'I was made in 1985!" My heart went out to that child. That old hand-me-down snowsuit or pair of boots can be cause for extreme, elementary school persecution.

I silently thanked God for Homeschool friends, Church Folk, Thrift Stores, and Clearance Sales.

My children proudly wear thrifted items. We almost never buy things full price. I have been blessed with left over clothes and hand-me-downed closets on many occasions. God has always provided. We often receive things that are nicer than what I would spend money on.

We do have a few standards with the used clothes. No underwear. No inappropriate tees even if it was free. If they really hate it, and I can find it elsewhere, we skip it. If not, they wear it and become a better adult through a tough lesson.

I think this stems from my year with the Purple Fur Coat and Silver Moon Boots.

My parents were very hard working folks. My dad sold seed corn and soybeans to farmers and as a result we moved from town to town as his job transferred him from area to area. I think often they had a lot to pay Peter and Paul was calling in his loan.

My mom could make a divine meal out of potatoes, WIC cheese slices, and a bunch of celery. I think she excelled at making us feel full, warm, and rich in all the important things. She taught me to cook down a chicken, knead bread dough, and make a pound of burger stretch a mile and three quarters. She taught me to grab eggs from under an ornery hen, stay out of the goats way, and love the rabbits a bit less because they would be for supper someday. She taught me the beauty of a Marigold was as important as the first ripe tomato in July.

I never really knew we were poor. I knew we were loved.

Then came the winter of my third grade year. I knew things were different in our family. It was my first realization of not having what others had. I did not have the cool jeans with rainbows on the back pocket. I did not have a polo shirt with a little embroidered horse on the left shoulder. I did not have pretty hair ties, or leg warmers, or Strawberry Shortcake erasers. My backpack was used and didn't have little beaded safety pins hanging from it. I didn't even have a friendship bracelet! My clothes were suddenly wrong even though they had always been okay.

The pinnacle of understanding my differentness came at the first snow. My coat didn't really fit. I remember standing in the local department store with my mother staring longingly at the beautiful ski jacket on display. It was one of those puffy jackets with the western style trim and pearly looking buttons. The top portion above the white piping was a darker blue and the bottom half lighter. It had a metal ring built in for your super cool ski gloves to hook on to. The jacket was shown with matching bib overall snowpants and a fun knit hat with a big fuzzy ball on the top.

Man, did I want that jacket. I instinctively knew that the blue ski jacket would make me fit within the confines of normal. I could blend in seamlessly with the rest of the class. Ah, what peace it would be. I just wanted to blend in. To be unseen.

I knew however, that it was not to be. I followed her out of the store still thinking about that jacket and about how my current coat was too short in the arms and the snow would get it and freeze up my wrists. My back peeked out if I bent over. My boots didn't fit and stunk like wet bread bags. With a 1/4 mile driveway to walk to the bus every morning that would start to be a problem awfully soon. Winter in Minnesota is merciless even in a mild year.

Mom had been given some bags of clothes for us kids from some kind soul. It was probably a neighbor or church friend who saw my exhausted parents shuffling into service every Sunday dragging twin babies, a preschooler, and me lagging behind. We were always taken care of but I remember her looking so sad so often. Poverty can be a weary place for your soul. Still, God provided for us through my mother's diligent prayers and trust.

I can see the purple fur jacket peeking out of the bag in my mind's eye. It was a pinkish, purple, fuzzy fur. The coat was like a navy pea jacket with the square of buttons in front. There were four of them colored a dull brass like an old used tea pot. I think they were suppose to look like coins with a Roman solider on them. The really horrible part however, was the white, faux fur, trim speckled with black dots. I believe the manufacturer was going for a queen's robe meets a Roman sailor on the good ship Lollypop look.

Oh, how I repelled inwardly. This was nothing like the sleek, shiny, blue ski jacket.

My mom held it up and judged the size. I knew it was mine.

So there was my winter coat. I was going to be the tail end of every joke the cool kids could come up with. My eyes filled but I did not show it. I knew I should be grateful to have a coat. The knot in my throat was so hard it hurt and I turned away.

"Look! Boots, too!"

With some apprehension I turned to see my new boots. Oh please could they not match the coat?!

Oh they didn't match the coat. Nope. They didn't match anything. They were shiny, silver moon boots. Boy moon boots. With huge, thick heals and silver laces. They went clear up to my knees and glowed like a bad sci-fi movie. They needed a ski jacket and a boy!

Really? Shall we just stick a Bull's Eye on my forehead?

"Thanks, mom."

I absolutely hated that jacket. I loathed the boots. However, I new it was the best my parents could give and I knew I shouldn't complain. (I am sure I did a bit....)

I wore them.

Grudgingly I admit, they were warm. I was teased. I was laughed at. It was embarrassing to be seen in. I stuck out like a huge purple, fuzzy, Ewok amidst the Sking Crowd. But, I sure was warm.

The lesson learned: Be thankful in all circumstances.

What a gift that is. What an amazing lesson! What a work the LORD has done in my life with a lesson began before I even knew who He was.

pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

So, sometimes, make them wear that ugly, old, out of date, piece of clothing. It builds character and thankfulness.

Always Blessed,
Gretchen :)

Possibly Linking With:

Frugally Sustainable
Raising Homemakers
Far Above Rubies
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Wholehearted Home
Growing Home

Courtship Connection
Living In the Shoe
Homemaking Linkup Weekend

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Tuesday's Gifts~ Wisdom Seeking

Wisdom. A goal to be reaching for.

A gift God gives.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

~ Proverbs 2:6

If I but ask for it.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

~ James 1:5

And a promise to cling to.

¹³Happy are those who find wisdom,
    and those who get understanding,
¹⁴for her income is better than silver,
    and her revenue better than gold.
¹⁵She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.
¹⁶Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
¹⁷Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called happy.

~ Proverbs 3: 13-18

Striving.

Seeking.

Sentinel.

Always Blessed,
Gretchen :)

All pictures are courtesy of my sister, Sara Rose Nissen.

Check out her artwork over at as seen through my eyes. :)

Possibly Linking With:

Frugally Sustainable
Raising Homemakers
Far Above Rubies
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Wholehearted Home
Growing Home

Courtship Connection
Homemaking Linkup Weekend

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Tuesday's Gifts~ Dust of Snow

'Tis a challenge sometimes to find a gift in the cold and snow here in Minnesota. We are overly compensated most years and about the end of January all I want to think about is spring muddiness and lilacs blooming. Our LORD, though, asks us to be thankful everyday, for everything, because all things good are from Him. So I can choose to look at the beauty of a snowflake, or ten million zillion of them, and be blessed. What a gift.

Dust of Snow

By Robert Frost

The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart

A change of mood

And saved some part

Of a day I had rued.

Waiting

xox

Frosty Bits


Fragile Lace

He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’

~ Job 37:6

Always Blessed,

Gretchen :)

All pictures are courtesy of my sister, Sara Rose Nissen.

Check out her artwork over at as seen through my eyes.

Poetry from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173526.

Possibly Linking With:
Cornerstone Confessions

Wisdom Wednesdays and Link Up
No Ordinary Blog Hop
Frontline Moms Friday Fun
The Welcoming House

Frugally Sustainable
Artful Homemaking
Far Above Rubies
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
Wholehearted Home
Growing Home

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

I Was Featured!

Just because it makes me so happy I have to share that I have had the privilege of being a Featured Blogger! On not just one (!) but two different Blogs in the past couple weeks. I feel so honored. Seriously. Now because I want to share this milestone with all of you and save it for posterity please go check out these two lovely ladies and their Blogs!

Judith over at Wholehearted Home is so full of God's love and joy you can almost feel it through the computer screen. I would love to have her over for a cup of tea (or a pot), a piece of peach cobbler and a long discussion on everything I need to learn yet about mothering and running a house. I think she would have a fair enough amount of encouragement for the ever changing job of marriage as well. She makes me laugh and cry and think about the important things. Check out her writings, poetry, recipes and good friendship feeling of fellowship over at Wholehearted Home!

Here is my Linked Up Post!


Link Up #23

Heather at The Welcoming House is so joyfully real I find her absolutely refreshing to read. Her bloggy life is a beautiful open book of all kinds of love, child rearing, wifery, and a passion for teaching others how to get back to the basics. If I need to know how to can something or how to make it myself she is one of the first places I look. I enjoy reading about her darling daughters, and I especially like that she has a soon to be teenager on her hands because I find comfort in those similarities we have! She lives up here in the cold north and I should like to stop by and have that piece of pie she advertises about! Thank you Heather for featuring me! I am humbled. Now everyone... Go learn how to make pumpkin flour for raviolis and homemade Crisco candles at The Welcoming House!

My Linked Up Post!

Link Up #4!

Always Blessed,
Gretchen :)

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Tuesday's Gifts~ from my parents

Tuesday's Gifts ~
My parents instilled in us a love for Our LORD, gratitude for our freedoms and a respect and love for the old ways of things. What a gift.

Ichthus

Free

cellar

¹⁴It was at that time that the Lord commanded me to teach you his decrees and regulations so you would obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy. ~Deuteronomy 4:14

Always Blessed,
Gretchen :)

All pictures are courtesy of my sister Sara Rose Nissen.
Check out her artwork over at as seen through my eyes.

Possibly Linking With:
Cornerstone Confessions