Recap of Beth Moore - BETTER

Here is the recap of what I walked away with from the Beth Moore, Living Proof Live Conference I attended.


Hebrews 11:40 ...God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.


There is a better that is BITTER and there is a better that is BETTER.


Better is BITTER when better is BEFORE - stop looking back to the past and wishing things could go back to before such and such time. 


Better is BITTER when better is SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME - stop comparing yourself to others...there will be someone better than you...more talented than you...more beautiful than you...more capable than you...but you are also all those things to someone else...so stop comparing!


When PRIDE is involved in your comparisons better is BITTER.
When HUMILITY is involved in your comparisons better is truly BETTER.


Better is BITTER when better is THE ROUTE I DIDN'T TAKE - Regret is KILLING us!


Hebrews 12:18-24 New International Version (NIV)

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy
 ¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; ¹⁹ to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, ²⁰ because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”^[a] 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”^[b] 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Better is BITTER when better is WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN!  
I should have known better is being a fool.
I did know better is failure.
A trap of the enemy is the lie that when we know better we do better - but this is not always true!


WE HAVE GOT TO MOVE ON - TAKE ON THE FULL FORGIVENESS OFFERED TO US THROUGH JESUS CHRIST AND MOVE ON!


2 Corinthians 7:10 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Obedience blesses us!  Today is the day to move on!


Better is BETTER when better is the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.


Better is BETTER when better is A SAVIOR - JESUS CHRIST.


Better is BETTER when better is GOD'S LOVE - Choose to love again...We are not in God's will when we are not in God's love - To abide in God's love is to abide in God's will - God is mad about YOU!


Better is BETTER when better is GOD'S WAY.


AND FINALLY - Better is BETTER when better is A COUNTRY!


Hebrews 11:39-40 New International Version (NIV)

 ³⁹ These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.


FAITH CREATES A LONGING FOR A BETTER COUNTRY...THE BETTER COUNTRY WE ARE PROMISED IN GOD'S WORD!

Copyright © 2011 All Rights Reserved MMFarmlife - Melanie Schlatter

Baseball Games

This summer we were able to watch several baseball/softball games.  Here are some pictures of one of the times we enjoyed being at the fields.

Tyler up for bat

He got a hit...off to 1st base he goes.

Nathan following Ethan around the fields

Copyright © 2011 All Rights Reserved MMFarmlife - Melanie Schlatter

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Marion was right! Yes, I am admitting it. He actually cut wheat on Friday! I'm sitting at Beth Moore waiting for it to start.
:o)

Amazing Coffee....Thanks K!

So this morning we had our iced coffee and my vote is AMAZING!

Both Rox and I agree that the flavor is MUCH smoother and less bitter than the hot coffee that is iced!  To me I also thought the flavor was more bold.  I did dilute the coffee down with equal parts water before adding in the milk/creamer.  But my sister just took it straight....she likes the bolder coffee flavor.

This is definitely a recipe we will be keeping and using at home!


In other news, I have thoroughly been enjoying the laptop at my sisters.  I was teasing her saying that I was in heaven because I could get a cup of coffee and sit comfortably on the couch watching the kids play, drinking coffee, and using the laptop!  As Marion has said many times, I would totally be in my element to sit in a coffee shop using the laptop surfing the net or working on the computer while chatting with my girl friends!  Which is one reason why when we went to Estes last fall, Marion took me to the coffee shop every morning and made extra stops for me to get coffee along the way.  Though I don't have a laptop or other mobile device, I sure enjoyed the experience of sitting and relaxing at the various coffee shops.

However, I have to say that though it is very nice to be able to blog and be with the kids - I can also see Marion's point...if I was able to do this all the time I might not be able to get anything else done...LOL!  Well, it is time to get going for the day, I'll be leaving for Beth Moore after lunch.  So, see you on the flip side!  :0)

Playing with the Cousins

My sister and her family offered to watch the kids while I attended a Beth Moore Conference in Lincoln.  So a few days before the conference, we all headed up to Gothenburg for a visit.  The kids had a great time visiting their cousins:

AJ let Jonny ride his bike all decked out in racing gear.

AJ did great walking beside Jonny...Jonny felt like a big kid!

Here Jonny is waving "Hi" to me!

 While AJ was entertaining Jonathan, Tyler was keeping Nate busy:

Nate on the left, Ty on the right

Nathan with his racing helmet enjoying the scooter.

 Then Nate had to show me his ramp jumping skills:

At least he made it through alive...lol...actually...he did a great job!


When I looked around to find Abigail...this is where I found her:

having a great time on the trampoline

It wasn't long before the boys joined her:

Ty doing a flip

Nate getting a turn

AJ doing a flip

Then it wasn't long before Kim showed up with the kids she babysits and they all decided to get their swimsuits on and put the sprinkler under the trampoline:

I think it is safe to say they had a great time at the Whitings while Mommy was away!

:0)

Cold Brew Coffee Experiment

A few weeks back, my sister-in-law K told me about this amazing coffee she's been hooked on called Cold-Brew Coffee, where you brew your coffee in the refrigerator.  It apparently brings out the flavors more and produces a very smooth tasting cold coffee.

Well, when I arrived at my sister's I discovered her Keurig coffee maker and fell in LOVE!  I've had an iced coffee every morning.  But it got me thinking of this new cold-brew thing, so Rox and I are going to try that today with a Cinnamon Nut Swirl flavored coffee.  (Rox is laughing because while at the store earlier, I was going to buy some coffee to try this with but didn't like the Hazelnut and Cinnamon blends that they offered.  Rox said she had French Vanilla at home so I shouldn't buy any...but when we got home though...she didn't have any French Vanilla but did have one with Cinnamon and nuts...lol!)

So, here is the link to the instructions as to how to make Cold-Brewed Coffee (I'm not sure if this is the same as K gave me at home but I did find this one online here in Nebraska :0)

Cold Brew Instructions  

Now, Rox didn't have whole beans so I had to try to convert to ground coffee.   I found this Ratio Brewing Chart which I thought was very helpful.  We actually used about 3/4 c of ground to 1 quart of water.  I'll let you know how it works.

Coffee Brewing Ratio

will be back soon

Hi Everyone...sorry we've been absent for so long.  Last week was VBS at the church and so the week before I was busy prepping and getting ready for the 20-24 preschoolers that I was planning for having at VBS this year.  Then we had VBS week with Nathan going to Salina to visit with Cousins B & E while attending VBS there.

It was our original plan to have a few days to recover before the kids and I headed out to Gothenburg where my sister and family were going to watch the kids while I attended a Beth Moore conference in Lincoln.  Then I was going to stay for a few days and visit, however, Marion felt that harvest might be starting sooner than later so we took a day to pack and get ready and headed out on Tuesday instead of Thursday.

So, now I'm at my sister's house and we are hanging out, going to ball games, and having a great time visiting before I go to the conference.  So far the kids have thoroughly enjoyed playing on the trampoline, scooting around outside, going to the pool (though it was pretty cold yesterday in the water) and just hanging out.

I have to tell you though Nathan is CONVINCED that we need a trampoline!  After spending a week in Salina jumping on Aunt K's tramp and then coming here to jump...He thinks we absolutely NEED one.  To be honest, Mommy wouldn't be against it but Daddy will be the tough sell.  Maybe I will have to do some research and see what I can come up with...I think the kids would be so worn out every day that we might actually get some good sleep in...lol!

Well, I better go for now, just thought I'd give you all an update as to why I've been so absent lately.  I have a ton of pictures of VBS and various other things that have been going on but they'll have to wait until I get back home.  I'll also try to get some pics of the kids on the tramp here to post them too!

See you all later.

VBS Week June 13-17

It's that time of year again...and I'm really quite excited.  I don't know what actually happened, but I've grown to love VBS week!  It's tiring, and sometimes stressful...but I LOVE working with the kids!  This year we did the Pandamania theme.  This was the first year that the older kids did a rotation and I think it went very well for them.  I've kinda always done a rotation with the little kids because they have to move to stay focused  -  if that makes any sense.  

So, here is what my Preschooler Area looked lie:

Game and Activity Area
(with the craft area to the left)

Bible Area

Attendance & Greeting Area

Panda Buddy Spot
(for anyone who needed a little more loving care...ie...time out)

Craft Area with the weeks crafts.

On our last day, we made those picture frames...see them...the last one on the right!  Anyway, we made those picture frames and then I took a picture of each of my kids with this guy below!

God Loves YOU...and so do I!

 I don't feel comfortable showing you all the kids pictures without their parent's permission so I'll just show you Jonny's.  There were some VERY cute pictures of the kids though...I'm glad I did it!

I think overall we averaged SEVENTEEN 3 & 4 year olds during the week.  We sent the 5 year olds on up with the other groups upstairs.  Though it is alot of work, I'm so glad we were able to do another year of VBS.

(on a side note, Nathan went to VBS with Cousins B & E in Salina.  They also did the Pandamania theme and so it was fun to compare notes, crafts, etc.  I can't remember the number K gave us now but our  little number of 50 kids didn't compare to the something like 250 kids they had...LOL)

Beauty of the Season

We had our first (and only) crop of Strawberries.  We think the chickens are eating the strawberries so next year we are going to HAVE to do something about that.  Marion has been talking about putting up a fence around our garden section to keep the chickens out, but we will see if that happens.  

I also read that after a couple of years the strawberries will stop producing due to their mother/daughter producing cycle.  Since we never established which plants are daughters and which are mothers, I took the tiller to the strawberry bed and made to very evident rows so that we can try to establish a clearer line of what is a mother plant (which doesn't produce) and what is a daughter plant (which does).   Maybe next year we'll get a few more strawberries.

On the same note, here is our BEAUTIFUL rose bush.  Marion just loves the old fashioned rose bush and it is just loaded down with blooms.  

These roses we got from Marion's brother M&K and they were very gorgeous this year!

please forgive the grass...didn't get that pulled before I took the picture.

All our roses and bushes did GREAT this year - I'm assuming that is from the amazing amount of water they received.  But it was splendid to see all the colors and the beauty that they provided us each time we were outside.

Our Third Flood of the Year

While I know that there are definitely places in the country, even in Kansas, that are experiencing droughts and other severe weather, in our area, we have had quite the wet season!  In the last few weeks we have had 3 floods and I heard that the rain accumulation has reached somewhere in the 12-15 inches ranges for JUST these few weeks!

I know that in this last storm, we hat 3.8 inches of rain in one night and our neighbors to the south a ways reported have 5.2 inches! 

We have a bridge that we cross regularly on the way to the highway, and Marion was telling me that the bridge was built back in the 60's and the water had never gotten high enough to actually go over it until this year!  But in the last two weeks, that bridge has had water overflow it TWICE!  The first time was at night and no one (or very few) saw it, but this last storm we were able to see it.   

The Oak Creek Overflowing the bridge

One of our neighbors said that when they stopped by a few hours before that the water was actually OVER the railings.

The water came right to the side of the road.

Usually this is a big ravine but now it is FULL of water!

This is one of our fields across the road from the creek.

Marion and the older kids exploring the field.

Ethan sitting in the Jeep with a water filled field behind him!

We've been very blessed through this all that we have not had any water problems.  We have friends who I'm sure were under water and probably into their house this time around...I'm sure they would appreciate your prayers.