Cherries & Chances

With two young'uns, you can imagine that any productivity beyond the dishes washed and dinner made is a rarity. Of course, I exaggerate the lack of productivity. But it's to make a statement: relative to everyyyything that needs to be done, very little is checked off the 'mama-do' list.

That being said, it's taken me three different sessions to pit and de-stem about twenty pounds of deep red Bing cherries. But. It. Is. Finally. DONE! Tedious, sticky, tempting work, my friends.

Suspiciously, only twelve pounds made it to their bags after having the box out on the countertop within easy access of everyone for a week. Yes... eight fresh juicy pounds of cherries just... gone! Disappeared. Mysterious, indeed.

;-) (Don't ask about Abigail's bowel movements this week... But, if you need a natural diuretic, I may have a suggestion for you.)

Today, I began the second stage of preserving, the part that gives me such a thrill and sense of achievement.

Cherry jam with honey. Whole cherries for pies, cobblers, and ice cream. Cherry juice for flavoring kombucha and a special Friday night beverage. Dehydrated cherries for baking and trail mix. And... drum roll, please.... cherry vanilla fruit leather-- my first attempt!

Doesn't that list just make you roll your eyes in delight?

I have finished the first two-- five twenty ounce jars of jam and almost a gallon of whole cherries.

In the process of making the jam, I had a thought. First, I specifically pitted the cherries. Then, I roughly chopped the pitted cherries. I found three cherry pits! Finally, I boiled the chopped cherries. And found two more pits!! Three chances, three opportunities, to make sure my jam is pit-free.

And look at us, we're still alive. We still have the opportunity each day that we're breathing to submit to God or resist Him. How many chances do you need to say, 'I need the fullness of Who You are to change who I am?'

'For in Him we live and move and have our being....' (Acts 17:28).

Life has purpose and passion and peace when it's founded in our Saviour, Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah! 

Why wait until you're chopped? Why wait until you're boiling in the pot? Or maybe you're in the midst of this discomfort now. Don't wait for another moment. You have THIS MOMENT, THIS chance to say,

'Create in me a clean heart, Oh God! Renew a right spirit within me' (Psalm 51).

Will you say, 'God take me. Separate me from this pit of destruction-- sin in whatever form it is-- that I've allowed to be the core of who I am! Lead me in Your paths. Teach me Your ways. My faith is on You, God! I will follow You wholeheartedly today.'

He's calling you now. Will you submit to Him?

'Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up' (James 4:7-10).

God bless you and keep you,
-Raquel

What's the Big Deal?

Sometimes, life can be a bit overwhelming. We stumble over a small rock in the path, lose our footing, almost regain balance, then get tripped by the dog. Bam! We fall to the hard ground and lay there for a second, thinking, what just happened?

My morning, guys. Seriously. I landed in vining crown vetch and was so irritated I didn't think to smell the blooms.

Dishes need cleaned. Laundry needs put away. And Zac will need lunch made for tomorrow. Abigail wants me to play. Malachi wants to nurse. And I still need to feed Titus.

My attention is needed everywhere, and the tasks are ever before me. Exhaustion is screaming for its rest. Busyness is screaming for its vacation. Drained is screaming for its motivation.

And I'm screaming, 'WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?'

This. This moment is the big deal. This little girl that I'm cuddling with. She's the big deal. She told me tonight that she loves me just because she loves me. She said I'm fun and nice and not mean; (I asked, haha). She just wanted me to hold her as she fell to sleep.

Her unconditional love for me brings me to tears.

I get so caught up in the things that don't matter. I dedicate so much energy and thought to corner pieces that I pass right over the pieces with the central picture.

My little man's smile tells me of his complete love for me. His coos and dinosaur roars. All his developmental milestones are happening NOW. He's what matters.

Rubbing my tired man's shoulders. Drawing him a warm bath to relax. When he NEEDS help is when I am most helpful to him. I love this man, and I want to be here for him in THIS moment.

I'll make a game plan for tomorrow. Yes. It'll have the various chores on there. But, I'm going to write WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? at the top of the page.

I'm going to pursue the purpose of this life God has given me.

God bless you and keep you,
-Raquel

He Knows

Our Scripture readings this week included Exodus 25-26:30, the detailed description of how the earthly tabernacle patterns the heavenly tabernacle.

When I read this passage, an interesting thought struck me.

In Exodus 25:1-7, God lists the materials needed to construct the tabernacle and form the instruments.

He says, 'Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me....And this is the contribution which you are to raise from them: ....'
(NASB)

Only AFTER God has listed the materials needed does He tell them the purpose.

Verse 8-9, 'And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so shall you construct it.' God proceeds to describe the finer details.

Does this encourage anyone besides me? He knows! What an illustration of His omniscience! He knows His plan. He has a purpose. He sees the larger picture. Let's trust Him!

---
Someone recently blessed us with a wash machine. Today, the man told me that he had bought the wash machine for their use. As it turned out, they were able to fix their original machine. He was impressed that he should keep the unneeded washing machine, but he couldn't 'see' the reason. For several days, he wrestled with the impression to keep it and the lack of logic in doing so. He chose to return it.

A month later, he heard my washing machine had broken down. Suddenly, it dawned on him: that wash machine was for us! He went back to the store and purchased the same machine for us. What a blessing to us!

God had provided him what he needed and only later revealed the purpose.
---

Or I think of how He lead us to our home, which is certainly not large but has more of an open floor concept.... He supplied our home, knowing beforehand that for a season it would be the place we gather together with the church. He knows!

I think also of when my husband inquired about a laborer position with our friends' construction company well in advance of him being laid off from his job. Did Zac know he was going to be laid off? No. But God did. And He ordained his conversation with our friends. They were able to pray about it, consider it, and made a decision without pressure weeks before Zac was laid off. See? He knows!

With our new refrigerator, I'm just thinking, 'God knew we needed this refrigerator before I ever thought to ask.' Hmmm... so is God going to pour out His abundance on our garden this year? Or maybe He has another purpose in mind that we would need a larger refrigerator. He knows!

Or consider all the wild plants in our yard and woods. I am finding that many of them serve a purpose. Sheep sorrel. Wild lettuce. Lamb's quarter. Dandelion. Clover. Wild roses. White sage. Yarrow. Plantain. He supplied all of them BEFORE I even knew what they were. Many of them have medicinal purposes that I am studiously learning. Maybe one day, I'll need to crush plantain to apply to a sting. He put the plantain in my yard BEFORE its purpose is made known to me. But guess what? He knows!

I am so excited about this simple lesson I've learned that builds my faith. :-) Now to only be sensitive and humble before Him, so that if He would use ME as a part of a greater purpose, I would have the faith to 'raise my contribution.'

And to consider that I am the temple of the living God. He has stockpiled the supplies-- the events and people and teachings in my life-- so that His greater purpose of conforming my life to reflect His is accomplished.

Philippians 1:6 is encouraging to me along these lines:

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (NASB)

Be encouraged! God KNOWS!

God bless you and keep you,
-Raquel

Spring Cleaning

Anytime I want to express my thankfulness, eloquent speech escapes me like a sweet scent in the wind. I can recognize the lovely fragrance and even know the source of it, but to bottle it and precisely define its complexity is impossible.

All I can think to say is: God is so good. He is so, so good.

{Pause for one of Malachi's smiles--his eyes beaming in the shape of a crescent moon. Thank You for this little buddy love of mine.}

This week, I have had Spring 'fever.' In a literal sense, my sinus cavities have been keeping up with the abundant nectar flow that keeps my honeybees so content. And in a  figurative sense, my motivation to clean house is activated by the ever encroaching summer solstice.

{To have ambitions in the home, and health to take the initiative-- thank You, God!}

I started with the kitchen.
----

Wow! What a gorgeous kitchen! I shared in my friend's excitement for her new home.

I love all this counter space, and the island! I've wanted an island. She said.

A friend once told me when I first moved into my home that my counters would fill up quickly, and she was right! I'm sure yours will, too.  You'll have all your 'projects' out.

Oh, no! She responded. My husband doesn't like clutter or things out. I might have some things out on those counters, but this island will get cleared every day.
----
Thus, my idea was inspired-- to every day have an island with only the necessities.

That idea then gave way to a full on cabinet cleansing and item shuffling. (Putting the spices in the cabinet closest to the heat of the stove never made sense to me, anyway. For the sake of convenience, you lose potency.)

Then, the top of the refrigerator became just that-- the top of the refrigerator, not the 'little-bit-of-this-don't-let-Abigail-get-that' catch all it had become.

Next, went the refrigerator. And I don't just mean I wiped it inside and out. I mean, out the whole box went.

{A new, larger, and quieter refrigerator given to us before we could even ask You for it. I'm so grateful.}

The kitchen looks as revived as my attitude toward the household cleaning tasks. Let's do this thing.

Room by room, the Spring fever invades. No room is to be quarantined. Full on exposure.

The reward?

Today, Abigail said, Play with me mama.

And because my house is nearly all complete, I stopped what I was doing and said, Okay, Abigail.

{She wants me. She loves me. The ability to 'leap for joy' with her today. Thank You, thank You, thank You for her.}

The reward?

I really like the Spring cleaning you're doing. My man sweetly compliments when he walks in from a productive day at work.

{God, You gave him to ME! I'm still amazed. Then, last week, You provided his new job that meets our needs plus some.}

And for all the other many wonderful things You have done, thank You. The new-to-us wash machine. The smoke detector that alerted me in my sleep that I left a pot on the stove at medium heat. The identification of sheep sorrel in my yard. The cozy and warm fire in the wood stove. My bed.

I am incredibly thankful. Thankfulness produces joy, my pastor growing up in Jarrell often taught. Spring cleaning removes the clutter, so I can see it.

God bless you and keep you,
-Raquel

5 Months

Malachi is five months old today!

This little guy has brought five months of snuggles, cuddles, smiles, and giggles. His toothless grin reaches even to his light blonde eyebrows, and he gives it freely. Sometimes, you don't know if he is trying to eat you or smile at you.

He likes to play a game called 'I'll-suck-on-your-face-then-you-suck-on-mine.' If you choose not to play, he'll play anyway. Haha, But if you do choose to play, he will reward you with delightfully endearing baby chuckles.

Bath time, especially, brings the laughs bubbling right out of him. I admit I encourage Abigail to lightly splash him with water so that we can hear the happy sound. Then, all three of us enjoy hearty laughs.

That's the thing with this little guy. He seems to know that life requires laughter and that mama's love language is physical touch. His round arms reach over my shoulders, and his tiny hands grasp my shirt tightly. At times, he seems to be giving me a little squeeze. I am beyond blessed to have such a caring gentleman in the making!

Malachi sleeps well. A little milk, a little rocking, a little pat on his backside, and he's out. His lips scrunch against each other when he lies on his side, and it takes every.ounce.of.temperance to not kiss them.

Abigail does not yet have this temperance of which I speak. On more than one occasion, she has bounded into his sleeping chambers and declared, 'Chi Chi, wake up!' They are best friends, each blessing the other with a better attitude by presence alone.

Since discovering his cow dairy allergy (through breastmilk) and switching to the milk of goats, he enjoys tummy time so much more. He rolls-- a lot. He grabs for toys his big sister has sweetly brought for him. And... he eats the floor because my handsome little guy seems to want everything saturated in his salvia.

When he sits on my lap at meals, he attempts to partake off my dinner plate. Malachi also likes to practice sitting independently, suspiciously most often at meal time. Perhaps he's trying to convince me to let him try some 'big boy' food. Nope. We will wait until at least six months of age.

And the wait won't be long. Because not that long ago, he was a newborn that mesmerized us all.

My children are growing faster than I could have ever imagined a child growing. Thank God they are developing normally, but please God! Help us to raise them and train them in Your ways while they're so moldable. Help me to value this quality time with them. Thank you for giving us our children!

God bless you and keep you,
-Raquel

My Kitchen is Alive

Pristine is not a word I would use to describe my kitchen.

Jars of my many projects set on the countertop. Sourdough starter. Apple cider vinegar in the making. Wheat berries ready to be freshly ground. Kefir. Kombucha. Fermented vegetables.

Homemade bread is cooling. Homemade pasta is drying.

Some dishes are clean, and some are dirty. And when all of them are clean, we clear the table from another meal.

The floor is swept and swept and swept again. And mopped...sometimes.

Aprons hang from a cast iron hook on the wall. A pot holder peeks from a cabinet drawer.

The black stand collects mail that may be important, nails from my man's pockets, and fruit to be nabbed by a little girl looking for a snack.

Alive. Now that's a better description.

The kitchen breathes with the many activities of the day. If you listen closely, you can hear it's vital functions-- a monotonous hum. (Listen closely in your own kitchen, and I'm sure you'll hear, too.) You can see its changing expressions throughout the day. From its dark, coffee stained complexion in the morning to its energetic orange peel smiles at noon and wearisome pale floured face with the final roll of cookies. Smell its various labors. Then taste with delight.

My kitchen is alive. It's the heart of our home. My favorite place, where I have spent today.

God bless you and keep you,
Raquel

Realities

Do most people keep their dashboards dusted? I asked my husband, as I considered the thick tan coating ours.

His look was one of compassion. I opened the console and grabbed the dusting wipes to begin what hadn't been done in months.

Our upbringing affects the perspectives and mentalities we have as adults. Sometimes, we don't even realize we perceive a particular way until some enlightening event.

Deplorable conditions, not just poor, but beyond poverty. These words have adhered themselves to me like sourdough on a wooden spoon.

When I first met my husband, I was a foolish fourteen year old girl. He and members of our church were helping my family move from one home to another. I found a cooking pot hidden away, and in it, mold growing rampant. I was excitedly disgusted and showed it to everyone. (Foolish, I said.) The point is that the pot didn't have to go unwashed. Even if its contents had been burned to it, the pot could have been soaked. Or thrown out, if it was beyond hope.

The pot never had to reach the point of growing mold. Poverty was not an excuse; we had running water. Physical ability was not an excuse; all the other dishes were able to be washed. So why was the pot left in unacceptable conditions?

I find myself remembering bits of my childhood since those words were said to me. A childhood that has been mostly presenting a black and blank reel suddenly has clips of movement and voice to play for me.

I keep a mostly organized home and clean daily. Our lifestyle is functional, and we are happy. But every now and then, I recognize instances when the way I live is less than acceptable and can be easily remedied. They don't have to stay unacceptable.

One person said to me once, 'I feel like you make do with a lot of stuff that's only halfway workable.'

I now understand: this 'stuff' could easily and cheaply be made completely workable. The realization of this mentality in my lifestyle is oddly refreshing. And it's hard to describe it in words.

I feel like it's a turning point in my past.... Helps me to move on.

God bless you and keep you,
-Raquel

Preparation Day

Everyone's moving to north Idaho. Seriously. We did. Pretty much everyone up here did at one point. You should, too. ;-) How's that for peer pressure for you?

A family we know has moved here this week, and we are bringing them dinner to share. (And they're giving us a refrigerator that was in their new home.)

Mmm.... roasted chicken with Italian seasonings. Roasted potatoes, onions, carrots, and garlic. Sourdough granny rolls. No bake cookies. Iced green tea.

All homemade with love and care. And desperately wanting to be eaten. That's how I interpret their scrumptious aroma, anyway.

We have diligently prepared today for our Sabbath. The day before a sabbath is called the 'preparation day' in Scripture. (This information is valuable when you're reading about the Messiah's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, so you can form a better timeline.)

I cleaned house and kids, and cooked, cooked, cooked. Since Zac's new job is Monday-Thursday (10 hour days), he was able to fell trees for this winter's firewood. Everything is ready to rest tomorrow.

I am so thankful God has commanded physical rest! He made the weekly Sabbath for us, as Jesus said. All that God commands concerning the Sabbath is that it be set apart (holy), a gathering (convocation), and a time to cease working (withholding all business for mankind and animal kind).

During this time of physical rest, we find part of that spiritual rest which Shabbat shadows. (I say 'part of' because the author of Hebrews clearly states that the Messiah has not yet fulfilled Sabbath, which is ultimately the shadow of eternity with Him.) The part that we find is the time in His presence, in His Word with other believers without any thought of rushing (a 'holy convocation,' in KJV).

I don't have much time to reflect today, but I did want to wish you a

Happy preparation day!
&
Shabbat shalom! (Peaceful Sabbath)

God bless you and keep you,
-Raquel

Just Past Four

I felt the bed shift, imagined those long arms reaching to the wooden night stand, and heard the abrupt silence a moment later. Are you going to get up with me? He asked.

If I can, I replied looking at the little one wrapped against me. What time is it?

Just past four, he yawned.

-----
My mind stirred itself back to when we had just married. We had found out at our reception that my husband's work would be closing doors during our honeymoon (Thanksgiving week 2013).

Zac received the call on Friday after Thanksgiving. His new position, a seasonal worker for UPS, would begin Monday morning at 4am.

That two month period was such a sweet time for me in our marriage. I woke up with him, whether he had to be there at 2am or 6am. I felt so honored to be the one to make his breakfast, pack his lunch and snacks, encourage him with a kind word, and see him off to work with a kiss.

I was blessed by blessing him. That tends to be the way it happens, doesn't it?

-----
Daybreak whispered through the curtains. Quietly-- and with great carefulness-- I scooted away from the sleeping infant and out of bed.

Just past four isn't such a terrible time. Serene. Still. Soft.

I forget what these moments are like sometimes. Moments when you're alone, though you're not. Moments that are quiet, though not silent, and are spent in thoughtful focus.

Do all moms experience the loss of moments like these? I'm sure for a season, yes. I seem to have. Even when I shower, I normally have my toddler knocking on the door, Mama come out. Mama shower? Even when I sleep, I normally have my little son nudging to nurse. Even when I pray, I'm reminded who to pray for every three seconds. Haha

I don't belittle the active, talkative, demanding moments of motherhood. Quite the contrary! I am incredibly thankful I have been given the task of keeping our home and caring for our children.

But I do recognize the difference between 7am-10pm and just past four. At least, I did this morning. And I've chosen to embrace both. Thankfulness, peace, joy, humility.... are in both times.

I'm reminded of Soloman's wise words in Ecclesiastes 3.

11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; 13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. 

He made quiet 4am and clamorous 2pm. His gift to me is that I can 'see good' in it all because He made it all. I'm laboring as a mother for the eternity of my children's souls-- and mine.

I pray you see the good of your tired moments, your defeated moments, your disappointed moments, and your sad moments. And that you're not too distracted with excitement to see the goodness, creation, and eternity of God in those joyful, everything's-going-great moments.

God bless you and keep you,

-Raquel

Hiatus Discontinued-- Blessings of the Day

How's a year long hiatus for you?

Not very faithful of me, I admit. I have not had a reliable source of internet, so I haven't been dedicated to routine blogging.

I do enjoy writing, though. I also find that my life produces seasons where writing is productive or beneficial to me for various reasons. Other times, it's not as important.

This season of my life is forcing the figurative pen in my hand, and as I am afraid my memory will chase away these precious moments, I had better begin writing. (Unfortunately, I am using my phone to write these posts. That means I will likely not be posting pictures regularly, since my camera downloads to my laptop.)

To begin... again:

Today, I have moved about my home like my honeybees move about my garden. As efficiently as possible, visiting one room and then another, gathering toys and dishes, clothes and books, transferring these items to their cells of organization- all in the hopes that my home will have an as inviting appearance and fragrance as honey.

But, it doesn't smell like honey. It smells like 90°F of clear blue skies. As I took my baby son's tiny clothes off the drying rack outside, I couldn't help but inhale the happiness of sunshine, that delightful smell that sun dried clothing absorbs as it releases its moisture.

Our first 90° weather day has not impressed the broccoli in my garden. But, as with most things in life, everyone has a difference of perspective. The seeds are excitedly sprouting because of the heat of the sun and wetness of recent rains-- an excellent combination for germination.

I once read that plants respond to music and their gardener's loving voice. I like to pray over my garden when I visit it each day. Not because I expect my plants to hear and respond with growth and fruit, but because I am deeply convicted that the One to whom I pray hears and responds. He-- YHVH, as He called Himself to Moses, and Yeshua (or Jesus) as He called His earthly form-- is the One Who blesses with rain and harvest.

Deuteronomy 28 resonates with me today. I call it the 'blessings and cursings chapter' because in this chapter God describes the consequences of right doing and wrong doing.

Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God:

³ “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.

⁴ “Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock.

⁵ “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

⁶ “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

⁷ “The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before you; they will come out against you one way and will flee before you seven ways. 

⁸ The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

⁹ The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways.¹⁰ So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they will be afraid of you.

¹¹ The Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.

¹² The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 

¹³ The Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, 
¹⁴ and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them (NASB).

Repeatedly-- and not in this passage only-- God says He will give rain and abundance of produce to those that keep, or guard, His commandments. As I seek to obey Him as evidence of my faith, I cling to these promises of blessing over my garden! (To balance this perspective, though, remember that it also 'rains on the just and unjust.' Just because someone is being blessed does NOT mean they are walking in YHVH's ways.)

Today has been ordinary. I have sung the songs of a two year old. I have rocked with a baby's tide of tears. I have watched the chickens peck at specks in the grass, and thrown the stick for Titus to fetch until he runs to the stream rather than me. I've prepared our meals with diligence, and cleaned our home with efficiency. I've kissed my hard working man in greeting who was laid off Monday, unemployed Tuesday, and hired for Wednesday.

It's been a good day, a blessed day. Filled with gratitudes that radiate joy. Filled with opportunities to be a blessing in return. My son's toothless, face wide grin that beams with adoration. I am his everything. My daughter's cuddles, as we read the Scriptures together-- and then her restful snores. I am her safe comfort. My handsome husband's sparkling, but tired green-brown eyes. I am his peaceful helper.

My God's ever present presence. I am His disciple and betrothed.

May God bless you and keep you,

-Raquel