Day One of our Journey - The Day of Rest

I guess I should begin by making sure that I communicate clearly. This is now my journal. A way to look back and reflect. A way to see blessings and some not so great decisions. A time to learn. This is MY and my family's learning. Therefore, when I write posts, I am writing for my family and my opinions of my life. I would never tell anyone how to live. My hope is that through my writings, you will be stretched and maybe find some new ways of doing things. If you don't, that's fine too. You can just sit back and call me crazy. It's OK, I have already heard it a few times. :)

How fitting it is to start this journey the day before the Lord's day. A day to worship the Creator of all things, relax and reflect. A time to rejoice in praise and rest while rejuvenating our mind, body and soul. It is fitting because it's the foundation, the backbone one might say, of setting up a productive and God-filled week. A week of hard work and staying on track. A day to be thankful for the blessings that abound.

The Sabbath has been abandoned. We fill our schedules and we run, run and run some more. If the Lord of Lords, the God of the Universe, had to take a break after six days of hard work, why would I think that I would not? Am I super woman? Do I have more strength to continue? God did not take the day to rest because He was tired. I really don't know that He gets tired. He's amazing and perfect. I think He took the day to reflect and look back on what he achieved during the days before.

The first step in our journey is to embrace the Sabbath. Go back to how the Lord would like it.

I will be working very hard (and it will take some preparation) to not cook, clean, use the computer or internet and abstain from places in which someone has to work on the Sabbath. Is that extreme? Some might say it is. However, as you can probably tell, I am an extreme person.

I also know that for some, the Sabbath is not Sunday. For that, I totally understand. Find a day during the week that works for you. A day where you can look back at the six days before and know you've done your best work. A day where you can put everything aside but your love for your Father and family. Relish the moments. Enjoy the day. Relax.

Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don’t do any work—not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your servant, nor your maid, nor your animals, not even the foreign guest visiting in your town. For in six days God made Heaven, Earth, and sea, and everything in them; he rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed the Sabbath day; he set it apart as a holy day. 

                  - Exodus 20: 8 - 11 (Message)

What about you? What does the Sabbath look like for your home? 

Dreams Become Reality

Let's just get this out of the way... I am twenty-eight years old. I feel much, much older but I guess in the whole picture of life, I'm not really that old. Maybe it was just the toll three boys took on my womb. I swear I had soccer players before they were born.

With feeling old and being a mama of young chickens, the feeling that this is all life is and that there isn't time for your dreams to unfold engulfs your mind. That is the battle in which has been raging at the forefront of my mind. Add that to the fact that I have no self-confidence and I feel people will laugh at it, and I'm stuck. I'm in this limbo of wanting a dream, yearning actually and the feeling that I don't know where to begin and it's silly. I feel like I have multiple personalities. The devil versus angel on the shoulder. The same old debate. I know others have it. I know I cannot be the only one...

It is time to take a stand. A time to hold fast to the promises of God. It is time to put on my big girl (hmm....) panties and take hold of my life. I am tired of living life, scratch that riding the wave of life being scared.

With much prayer and a passionate heart, I am embarking on a new journey. A journey in which I will finish and see to the end with the Lord's help. A journey that will redefine me and refine my family. One in which we will grow.

My dream involves bringing all my passions to one place... A farm. A piece of land. A place where my heart can soar and peace engulfs me.

I yearn to live off the land. Be self-sufficient (to a point.). Raise our kids along side of my husband. Be free of debt and worry about money. Give continually. Share my passion of raw nourishing foods. Teach others. Raise free range beef. Work hard and love harder. Be content and peaceful. Look at the windows and see the hard work.

And mostly... I want to share my journey. I want to be a testimony to God's enduring promises. I want the Lord to use me. I want to live daily in His grace and love and share it with others.

So... With that being said... I am back. I am going to write. I am going to share the ups and downs of our journey. I am going to share and pray that this blog portrays me... A Jesus lovin', help-meet to Andy, mother to three amazing boys 'burb girl and her journey to the land. The land she feels in her heart she can find peace. Will you journey with me? Will you pray for me? Will you laugh with me through the ups and downs - mistakes and blessings? Will you lovingly hold me accountable? Will you DARE to dream with me?

Once again, pull up a chair. I know you're tired. Open your eyes to the possibilities of your dreams becoming reality. And will you dream big with me?

Jesus isn't in the Manger - A Christmas Tale

As I sit and reflect on Christmas a couple of days ago and the time leading up, I am sad. I am disappointed. I was blessed but something was missing. Someone was missing. I misplaced Jesus. He not only wasn't in the manger, He wasn't at the center of my thoughts.

Every year, I begin to prepare for the Advent season and every year, it seems, I get off track. The hustle and bustle is more than I can take. I give up before it even gets started. I am overwhelmed. I am saddened by the commercialism and materialism. I stop. My excitement wanes. I hide.

For five days we ran back and forth, each moment slammed packed with another celebration. Another place to be. It was too much. By Christmas morning, the boys were holding on to the door frame and we were pulling them trying to get them to go to another event. They just wanted to be still (How often can you say that for boys!?). They just wanted to play. It broke my heart but I had to get us to the next place.  If we weren't there and there on time, someone might be angry. Someone's feelings might have been hurt.

As I sit here and reflect, I cannot help but wonder where Jesus was in my celebrations. Only speaking for myself, He wasn't at my heart and mind's center. Jesus was missing from the manger. The reason my heart yearns to celebrate was not present.

I cannot help but wonder how many people especially mamas feel like this during the Holiday season? How many feel that Jesus was missing from the manger? And as mamas and women of faith, how can we make sure our hearts and minds are focused on the baby that lay there?

Eggnog Bread

Eggnog Bread

• Mix in bowl #1-

2 ¼ cups flour
2 tsp. Baking powder
½ tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Nutmeg

• Mix in bowl #2 (large bowl) - 

2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup eggnog
½ cup melted butter
1 tsp. Vanilla
½ tsp. Almond extract

• Add to dry ingredients in bowl. Mix well.
• Bake in greased loaf pan at 350 for 45-60 minutes.
• When cool, frost with a mixture of ½ cup powdered sugar, ½ tsp. Vanilla, ¼ tsp. Nutmeg, add enough eggnog to reach consistency of a glaze.

Pumpkin Gingerbread

Pumpkin Gingerbread

2 ½ cups brown sugar

2/3 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

1/3 cup milk

1/3 cup molasses

16 oz. Can pumpkin

2 tsp. Ginger

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1 tsp. Cloves

1 tsp. Nutmeg

3 ½ cups flour

2 tsp. Baking soda

1 ½ tsp. Salt

½ tsp. Baking powder

1 tsp. Vanilla

• Preheat oven to 350. 
• Grease 2 loaf pans or 6 mini loaf pans.
•  Beat sugar, oil and eggs until smooth.
• Add milk, molasses, a nd vanilla and beat until well blended. 
• Beat in pumpkin and spices.
•  In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. 
• Add to pumpkin mixture and blend just to mixed. 
• Bake one hour. 

 I made some of this for my husband and son's birthday party this weekend. The clan gave it two thumbs up! I thought it was pretty good but it is REALLY hard to beat the Eggnog Bread!

Blessings....

As the craziness of the Holidays begin to unfold. Don't forget to go to the Lord

 in thanks for your many blessings. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

BEST and Easiest Pizza Dough EVER! :)

Remember this post about finding ways to have some family fun? This pizza has made it all come together!!

This crust keeps my family from having pizza delivered! It is just that yummy and easy. All you need to do is plan ahead BECAUSE you put everything in the bread maker and allow it to do the work! Easy-Peasy! :) 

Put in machine in this order:

• 1 cup and 2 Tablespoons water
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 3 cups flour 
• 2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning or pizza seasoning
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 1/2 teaspoon yeast 

Select the dough setting and walk away! After the bread maker's dough setting is complete, punch down dough and spread onto pizza pan. Add choice of sauce and toppings. Bake at 400 for 18-20 minutes.

Go ahead! Give it try this weekend. The only think you'll regret is not doing it sooner! :) 

The Battle Within

Many changes are happening at the Davis Dwelling...

So much to talk about. I have recently began an adventure into Direct Sales and it took off with a boom! Yet there is still this constant battle within. This battle telling me to simplify my life. Telling me to make time slow down. Telling me that this is not my dream.

With the government the way it is, I am scared. I am nervous. We are on the edge of a financial collapse. Am I the only one who sees it and feels it? I think not.

Even with that feeling, I have allowed us to stay right where we are with our finances. NOT GOOD! So I am back and I am ready to fight debt with all I have. I am going to open our wounds and let you see the real stuff. Not the stuff that feels good and makes it look like we've got it together because we don't. Not at all. The stuff that makes us vulnerable and holds us accountable. The stuff that shows we are human but with God's help, we can conquer.

Will it be easy? I think not.

But will it be worth it? I am sure it will.

Please join me and take part in your own debt obliteration OR just sit back and pop some popcorn and watch and join us as we celebrate and struggle. We are going to do this.

First goal - Current by January 1st! Who's with me?!

Dear Leaders

Dear Leaders - 


Just because you do God's work...  does not give you the right to treat people poorly. 


Just because you're a man of God... you don't have the right to make people feel inadequate and silly. 


Just because you are a church leader... you do not have the right to make decisions and hurt people in the process. The church is not your free reign. It's the Lord's.


Just because you are a leader...  you don't get have the right to take a teenager a side and belittle him and make him feel horrible because he forgot to take his hat off in the sanctuary. The Lord is glad that he is here helping shape young minds for Him. 


Just because you are a leader... you don't just get to say what you want and act how you want all the while not caring about how others fee.


Just because you are a leader...  you do not have the right to say whether my son will be dedicated because my son's sperm donor was not a Christ-follower.


Just because you are a leader... you don't have the right to pick your favorite group and make everyone else outcasts. 


Just because you are a leader... you don't have the right to judge.


Just because you are a leader ... you don't have the right to say one thing and do the other.


Just because you are a leader ... you don't get the right to call other people out. 


Dear leaders... I am aware that everyone is human and sins. However, you are not exempt of the teachings in God's word. You are still held to the same standards, if not higher than everyone else. 


"Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." - James 3:1

This is Heaven?!

Revelation 22:1-5  


Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.  No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Time to be honest. I struggle with the idea of Heaven. How could a place where I am not known as Andy's wife or Dylan's, Lincoln's or Kristian's mama be a perfect place? 


I am a control freak and the unknown sends me into a panic attack. I feel so unholy sometimes when I get scared about Heaven. I feel like less of a Christ follower. However we were made to feel homesick for Heaven.

Philippians 3:20-21 


But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.


While I know I should not doubt, I find comfort in that the Lord went to Thomas and showed himself. The Lord knows my doubts and my heart. He knows of my deepest love for Him and understands that I do not doubt because of a lack of faith but more a fear of the unknown.


John 20:27


Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

This morning my son, Dylan, asked me a hard question. He often does that. He asked ... "if people disliked Obama so much, what will they do if he is in Heaven with us?" My wheels began turning. All I do could was quote scripture and pray he understood.

The Bible calls us to love everyone. And I am going to say it... Even politicians. Even people we feel are out to destroy our beloved country. 

Matthew 5:43-48  

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

When I begin to feel anxious about the leadership of the country, I try to bring a few things to the forefront of my mind. 

The first, the Lord knows how it's going to play out. Though we have a will of our own and other's have a will of their own, God has a plan. He is here. Right. Smack. Dab. in the middle of it all. Even an election year. 

Isaiah 46:9

I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done. 

Second  - He is always listening to my concerns and heart. 

Phillipians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Third - The Lord is going to take care of the judging of our leaders and I need to steer clear... 

Romans 2:1

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement to do the same things.

Fourth, the Bible calls us to respect and submit to authority. Even if we don't like it or them.

Romans 13:1-7 

"Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil. Wherefore it is necassary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them; tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to who fear; honor to whom honor."

Lastly, the Bible is very clear about how we enter the gates of Heaven. Through Jesus Christ alone. I know not the heart of Obama and I will not know of his heart when his time on this Earth is through. I might very well be sitting in Heaven next to Obama.

John 11:25

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”

Does that scare me? Ummm... Yes. However, it empowers me. There is no one, NO ONE, whom I wouldn't want to share eternity with and I will begin praying for the Obamas. Though I am frightened by what the leadership is doing to our country and I couldn't disagree with them more, I will pray for the hearts of the Obamas and all leadership.  I will be praying for our country and I will be praying that love abounds and Christ is shown through all things.

Will you join me?