Sisters

Sisters, Sisters, there were never such devoted Sisters....

When my sister and I get together we can't stop ourselves from pretending that we are the Haynes Sisters. We have fun singing in great cornball -style many of our favorite show tunes and various commercial jingles, but "Sisters" is our perpetual theme song.

We haven't always been devoted sisters. Times were hard and not always fun for us. I'm the oldest. Little sister is six years my junior. Really it wasn't until we both had lived some that we began to see our need for each other. It wasn't until God began to work in both of us that our devotion bloomed.

We live pretty far apart now, but we manage to see each other about twice a year. In the summer my nephew comes to play with his cousins and at thanksgiving we take turns going to each others homes. It is great fun because we scout out great antiquing spots to visit on our annual "Friday-after-thanksgiving-antiquing-jaunt".

I really love my sister. There have been some truly deep wounds to my heart that she has helped to heal. She is loyal to me. We are different and our lives run in different patterns. God made us two definite individuals. I can see so clearly that He has used the likenesses and differences we have so that we can understand each other the way few others every could.

I love you sis. Had a great time while you were here. See you thanksgiving.

Thank you Lord for the comfort of a sister who loves you.

No Condemnation!!

How badly do you smell?? Do you stink?

"Sara, I thought this blog was supposed to be comforting?" Well, yes it is. Let me explain.
Sometimes I think I smell. Yes, smell. Stink to high, high heaven, as we like to say here in the south. Sometimes, there are other people who tell me I stink. Stink bad. Stink to high, high heaven. As you can well imagine this makes me feel pretty ashamed. You know, like you want to really look good to someone; make and impression; and you forgot your deodorant.
It is pretty hard when I smell my own stink. I know it is there and it tears me up inside. Thinking about my sin and the sin I've carried around in the past. But, I tell you it can really tear me up when someone else tells me they can smell my stink from a mile away. Whether it is true or not, whether I've had my bath or not. They smell me and let me know it. It is even worse when they leave the impression that they have no stink and they won't let me wash mine off.

But, my dear friends, here's the "Comforting" part. God has given me my bath. I don't stink to Him anymore!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! I'm washed in the blood of His own precious Son, His own blood. He DID that for me. Can you believe it?? I hope you can, because if you can, you won't stink either. Glory! Guess what? You really, really, won't smell and you NEVER, NEVER, will again. So anyone who says they can smell your stink is wrong and untrustworthy. Oh, we may need to check in with the Father for a little spit bath of repentance now and again. But never putrid, never filthy.

I wish I could convey to you how this cleanliness feels.

Here are some life-giving verses for you. I would encourage you to memorize them so that when you smell the stink you can remember:

Romans 7:14-8:1

...but I am carnal, sold under sin,

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man;

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

O WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM! WHO SHALL DELIVER ME FROM THE BODY OF THIS DEATH (this stink)?

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; But with the flesh the law of sin.

There is NOW NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Sunday at Comfort Cottage

I find it truly amazing that I can go all week, doing all the work I need to do with a family of seven, and not very often need a nap. However, I have noticed that Sundays are very different.

Sometimes our Sundays are full of fellowship with families from our church. We often fellowship on this day leu of an evening service. Most of the time we come home and spend it together as a family. This is fine, because we like to be together.

I have noticed an amazing thing. On all the other days of the week I move along and get my work done. At the end of the day I am surely ready for bed. But, on Sundays it seems as though God "makes" me extremely exhausted. It is as if all the residual fatigue of the week bursts forth like a dam breaking on Sunday. Whether I am home or away, no matter, the deep fatigue strikes. I am not saying this is a bad thing. On the contrary, I am trying to feebly explain what I feel is very much a "God Thing". I believe when He commanded a Sabbath rest He meant it. I seems as though He commands me to take this rest for my own good without my consent .;)

Some Sundays we all do quiet things, not necessarily napping, but resting. We read, play board games, sit outside on the porch or deck, make homemade ice cream, listen to music, ride bikes, take walks, ect. Today was one of the 'other' kind of Sundays. When there was an overwhelming need for sleep.

Just as we parked the car in the drive a black cloud of rain came toward the house. It was accompanied by low rolling thunder. (The kind I love.) As soon as everyone was in the house the rain began to pour slightly heavy, but slow. We had already had a fellowship meal so everyone was fed. I tried to sit in the chair and read, but I knew it was no use. I went to my bedroom, changed into my cozy flannel shirt ( yes, I know it is July, but the house was cool and I wanted "comfort"). I climbed into my tall shaker pine four poster bed. I listened to that beautiful low roll of thunder and the rain pouring down and spent some time talking to my Father about some things that were on my heart. He is so sweet. He gave me a deep and restful sleep that I needed very much. I think I can meet my week now. I won't be starting the week with a debt I can't catch up on.

A restful Sabbath is just one more Comfort from God our Father. He knows what's needed. He knows our frame. He created us. It is so nice to see God's wisdom for my life and move with it, as if it were the tide. Just let it wash me onto shore where I need to be and enjoy.

Hope your Sabbath was a blessing to you.

Comfort Cottage Almanac

I would like to start the Comfort Cottage Almanac this month. I love almanacs. I realized just recently that I have put together quite a collection of different types of almanacs without really trying. Over the years my eyes would always light on these types of books at antique stores, yard sales, thrift shops, ect. I have always loved home. To me, part of home is tradition and custom. I figured out early on in my marriage that I wanted those things, knowing somehow that it would draw my young (and small) family together. I soon understood that, like good art, family traditions don't just happen. They take work and commitment on someone's part. You have to be aware of time and the rhythm and passage of it. You have to stay on top of what's coming next month. You have to be willing to clean, cook, sew, shop, invite, decorate, love; whatever it takes to make the tradition happen.

It is all about Love and the comfort of Love. God created the times and seasons. He initiated traditions and celebrations for His people. He knew how these things would draw us and bind us together with Him. We can see God in our traditions. So, can you make your cottage a 'comfort cottage'? Can you think of one tradition that can draw your family together that you could plan for next month? I'll start my almanac in this month of July. I will try to update my almanac at the start of each month to let you see some of our comforting customs around here.

Let's get started:

July

• I put up Mr. Wonderful's sweet corn.
• I try to work on decorating projects and furniture refinishing that I can't do during the school year.
• curriculum sale this month (YEAH!)
• My absolute favorite sister often visits me in this month.:)
• The boys love to fish, swim in the creek, play in their treehouse.
• Enjoy the air conditioning.
• I start canning any thing and everything it seems.
• Peaches come in this month.
• Blackberries are ripe right around the fourth.
• We have a lovely blueberry patch close by. It is up on a mountain. We go as a family in the evening and have a great time.
• I try to get in 'school' sewing. (Kindof hard to do, tho.)

Last, but certainly NOT least is our annual fourth of July picnic.

This year was our fifth annual.

First, the FUN. The annual baseball game. Everyone is welcome to play.

And FRIENDS. Everyone gets to visit in the cool, or outside. Go hiking or wading or just sit & talk.

The FOOD. This year I provided the BBQ and hotdogs, everyone brought wonderful things to go with it. YUM, YUM!

Mr. Wonderful scoped this cake out the minute it came in the door. He even had a piece before he had anything else. It was good. Great job, Virginia.

There were special sauces to add to your delectable cake if cake alone didn't satisfy.

This lovely concoction tasted so good, was patriotic, and was diabetic friendly. Amazing.

Of course, the FIREWORKS! We all pool our resources and have a wonderful display.

Most of all this month reminds us that even though it seems many of our freedoms may seem to stand on shaky ground we are STILL the 'freest' nation in the world. And it is only because we are granted that freedom by God. Please remember to thank Him for it.

Almanacs

I thought you might enjoy seeing some of my almanac collection. I'll try to show some different ones each month.

Here I have my Tasha Tudor almanacs. These are all set up according to the months of the year. I treasure these. (The New England Buttr'y Shelf Cookbook, The New England Buttr'y Shelf Almanac, Seasons of Delight, Around the Year, A Time To Keep)

Probably one of my favorites is Mrs. Sharp's Traditions. It is so wonderfully old fashioned. It takes each month and gently describes ways to incorporated special times and traditions into your family. I LOVE this book. This edition is out-of-print. There was a newer edition out a few years ago, I'm not sure it is still in print. I would suggest doing what you can to get the old one though. It was written before the author's unfortunate divorce. The tone of the second edition is somewhat more cynical and clipped. The art work has also been edited and is not as good as the first.

Hope this gets your wheels turning about making your own cottage a 'comfort cottage'.

Start that tradition list for next month.

Breakfast in Bed

How about some delicious pancakes and egg with hot tea?

Good morning all! Have you ever been brought breakfast in bed? Isn't a lovely comforting thing? This morning, as I was trying to bring myself into consciousness and beat my children at rising, I was cheerily presented Breakfast-in-Bed by my darling Miss B. She is a charming 3 and 1/2 years old and quite the consumate homemaker already. Miss B. is my latest child (#5 & my only daughter). She has really brought comfort to my homemaking heart. I have always loved making a home. But, as years pass and busyness sets in, the joy of the thing you love can become routine and the shine wears off. Miss B has helped to polish up and revitalize my thinking toward the priviledge, beauty, and delight of making a home for my family. Thank you my darling girl!