Feminine Farmgirl

Joy in Crummy Toilets

2012-01-19T21:10:00.002-05:00

The opportunities that we have as homemakers-in-training are abounding everywhere we look.

Whether a daily task such as laundry folding, a weekly culinary duty such as baking bread, a bi-weekly errand to the grocery store or a seemingly "mundane" job (like scrubbing the household toilets), we have every opportunity imaginable to exercise and practice skills while we are yet "in training".

But there is more to being a homemaker, than the jobs which we can do. Young Ladies, it has to do with our hearts. And it is our choice. Will we perform our homemaker duties with joy and delight in each task (which includes scrubbing the crummiest of toilets), or will we choose to frown upon these daily opportunities? Will we choose a servants heart or will we try to minimize the effect of being a blessing?

We can make a whole house sparkle from top to bottom but if our heart isn't full of love from Christ, then that perfect house means nothing. We can make a delicious supper for our family, or run an errand for Mom, but if our hearts are grumbling then our act that could have been a blessing, means nothing.

We can garden, can, clean, sew, take care of babies, run errands, meet every agricultural farm need, whip out loads of laundry in lightning speed, and make a mean pot of soup BUT if our heart is not thankful to the Lord for the blessing of being a homemaker in training, if we are not grateful and full of joy at our Proverbs 31 calling, then what a waste of the opportunity that the Lord gives us as women!

The choice is yours - do you find JOY in being a homemaker?!!

It's (Not That) Complicated - Review and Giveaway

2012-01-05T22:42:00.002-05:00

*Giveaway is now closed*

One month ago I would have groaned inside if any Young Lady told me that they loved the young men in their life as "Brothers in Christ"...in my mind, it simply. wasn't. possible. They probably just hid behind "I-love-them-like-a-sister-in-Christ" to throw people off the scent of actually cradling a crush on the poor guy...

Is it really possible to love male friends as brothers AND have a pure, edifying relationship that is honoring your future spouse and your brother in Christ? What about all the the questions that boggle our minds such as "how to handle crushes"? "How close is too close"? Or are you asking yourself how you can be a "sister in all purity"???

In their new book: "It's {Not That} Complicated", sisters Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin tactfully address the concept of loving our male friends as true sisters who care more for advancing the kingdom of Heaven than for selfish and immature reasons - such as husband-fishing. They graciously share their Biblical insight on how to relate to the men in our life in a healthy, sane and Biblical way. The truth is, we girls make friendships a lot more complicated for ourselves than a Godly friendship truly is. The insight shared is excellent, well-written and is portrayed in a Biblical perspective with clean humor and many real examples.

In this book, Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin offer enduring Biblical principles that help clear all of our confusing emotions, unclear thoughts and questions on boys. If our heart is in the right place, it truly, is not that complicated! I highly recommend this book to all young women - you won't come away from this book without personal growth!

~~Would you like an opportunity to win this excellent and encouraging book?~~

~~Just comment for your first entry - if you're anonymous you MUST include your email in each comment~~

~~Extra Entries:~~

~~"Like" "It's Not That Complicated" page on Facebook (1 extra entry)~~
~~Embed the "Its Not That Complicated" banner on your blog - 1 extra entry (Found HERE)~~
~~Post on your blog (include link to post in extra comment) - 1 extra entry~~
~~Share direct link to this giveaway on Facebook - 1 extra entry~~

~~Giveaway ends on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 and winner will be announced shortly after.~~

Would you like another opportunity to win? Sophia's Siege has reviewed this wonderful book on her blog and is also offering a giveaway that ends on January 13th, 2012. Go HERE to enter.

We have a special winner!! Savannah from Seven Sisters was chosen by Random.org (#84). Congratulations!

A Life of Memories

2012-01-01T16:59:00.000-05:00

As quickly as the year 2011 has passed, so has my childhood. Remembering back to "the good old days", memories flood my mind of all the fun that I had, with not many cares in the world and the precious innocence that only a child can possess...now looking back, I wonder why I was so rushed to "grow up"...(to me that was reaching 18 years of age)? Why I didn't just treasure the fleeting time? And why I took each year, each day for granted. Perhaps some of my innocence was a lack of understanding - that life truly is a vapor! Now I realize what a blessing each new day is. The question, am I using each day to be a testimony for God's glory? is repeatedly on my mind.

This past month I've been especially been remembering back to memories that I share with my dear friend, Bethany.

Our friendship has grown since we first met at 4 years old and it all started over purchasing eggs and milk from their farm (at that point we still lived in the city). We would spend afternoons in their "school house", playing the piano while singing on the top of our lungs and someone bouncing away on their pony-on-springs...we would dress up kittens in doll clothes, play in their barn, bounce on their trampoline and laugh at old pictures of our parents:) When her younger sister was born and my younger brother, we "switched" babies for the afternoon while home-churching with our families. Once they moved south a ways, our visits weren't as frequent, but our friendship continued to blossom. We started skating on the swamp at their new farm, and replaced our school house play with long double-bare back horse rides...we rode bikes for miles in the country side, floated down the river in black tubes and talked for hours in the hay loft. Our favorite memory was when we had a water slide running down the hill right into their manure pile. I couldn't leave this list of memories without making mention of us waking up each morning at 5 a.m. for about two years and chatting with each other for an hour...farm updates, life updates, prayer requests and all the questions we could think of. Goat shows and Nationals were wonderful too.

Then came the phone call last April - and many to follow - about a young man named Daniel, who quickly won her heart...we knew the day would come, but I suppose I just wasn't ready for it. Last week I witnessed my dearest friend enter into holy matrimony...while I was very, very happy and excited for her, my heart was pondering just a bit over how fast these years have flown by.

All the memories that we have shared, Bethany, I wouldn't trade for a thing. I love you so much, dear girl, and thank the Lord for the life long friendship that has grown between us. Through blessings and trials you have always been there for me, praying, challenging and encouraging me to keep trusting the Lord and have faith in His perfect will.

Congratulations on this new journey that you now share with your new best friend...God's richest blessings to you and Daniel!!

{From our Farm}

2011-12-26T22:15:00.001-05:00

So many memories from 2011 - many wonderful times and a handful of difficult trials; all drawing me closer to my Heavenly King. What a year! Thank you Lord for each day, each trial, each memory, each refining fire.

Lilla Rose Winner

2011-12-24T14:02:00.002-05:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Lilla Rose clip giveaway, and a special thank you to Paula Ramm for donating the clip to giveaway and review!

Using Random Number Generator, it shows that our winner will be: Comment # 87 - Stephanie!!
{Stephanie, please email me at femininefarmgirl(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your prize}

These clips are wonderful for a quick and easy but lovely hair style, whether you're home on the farm, out for errands, or at an office, these clips are certainly a handy tool for the job. Shop Lilla Rose through Paula Ramm's page found HERE.

Blessings and Merry CHRISTmas!
Jenna

Announcing: Lilla Rose Review {and} Giveaway

2011-12-17T21:56:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Lilla Rose consultant Paula Ramm, I am excited to share a review of the wonderful Lilla Rose Flexi-clip; a well designed, comfortable and feminine hair clip that is an absolute wonder!

Since receiving my complimentary clip to review, I haven't stopped wearing the flexi-clip. I'm convinced that I will never go back to a plain 'ol ponytail because the flexi-clip is so comfortable and pretty. The practical simplicity combined with lovely femininity makes this clip a very special accessory.

Again, Thanks to Paula Ramm, I am excited to announce a giveaway here to my Feminine Farmgirl readers: A gift certificate valued up to $15; redeemable for a flexi-clip or any Lilla Rose item of the winner's choice.

Mandatory Entry:

1. Visit Paula's website, and come back here to comment on which style flexi is your favorite.

Extra entries - please leave the # of comments as equal to the # of entries stated:

1. "Like" Lilla Rose-Paula Ramm on Facebook - 2 extra entries

2. Follow Lilla Rose on Twitter. (if you don't have Twitter, watch the sizing video and comment that you did so instead of Twitter: sizing and styling videos, and comment which hairstyle is your favorite - 3 extra entries.

3. Blog about the giveaway - 5 extra entries

4. Post giveaway link on Facebook - 5 extra entries

5. Make a purchase during the giveaway dates from Lilla Rose - 10 extra entries!!

When you go to the website to look at the Lilla Rose product, please watch the sizing and styling videos before ordering, as it is very important to have the correct size in order to be completely happy with one's flexi. However, if by chance someone orders the wrong size, or is just not happy in any way, Lilla Rose offers a no-hassle, one-year guarantee with free return shipping for an exchange or refund.

Giveaway will close on Thursday, December 22 {early in the a.m.}

and the winner will be chosen using a random number generator...

Giveaway is open to readers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Thank you Paula, for the complimentary flexi-clip ~ All opinions in this review are my own:)

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

2011-12-13T15:40:00.001-05:00

2/3 cup sugar
1 cup butter softened
1/2 tsp. Almond Extract
2 cups flour
Raspberry Jam (seedless)

Glaze:
1 cup powder sugar
1-1/2 tsp Almond Extract
2 or 3 tsp water

Heat oven to 350. In a large bowl combine sugar, butter and almond extract. Beat on medium speed scraping bowl often until creamy (1 to 2 minutes) Add flour and mix in, being careful to not over-stir. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. With thumb, make indent in center of each cookie. Fill each with about 1/4 tsp of jam. Bake for 12 to 16 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges. Let stand 1 minute and remove from cookie sheet; cool completely.

In small bowl, stir powder sugar and almond extract. Gradually add enough water for a thin glaze. Drizzle glaze over each cooled cookie.

Double the recipe and share with friends and neighbors!

Here in the Power of Christ I Stand

2011-12-04T13:28:00.001-05:00

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live, I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From a life?s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

Songwriters: Keith Getty and Richard Townsend

The truths in this song couldn't be more real to me than right now. I am so blessed to stand in the power of Christ; to witness and to rest in Him as He reveals to me His plan for my life, for my fears to be stilled, my strivings cease.

Without Christ I wouldn't be able to stand strong amidst all the sin in this world, neither all the storms in my life. Looking back as the Lord brings me through different trials, I see what a blessing they are {though during the trial they feel like the furthest thing from a blessing} for the dross to be consumed and the gold to be refined.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.