Sunday Scripture

Cell phone vs. family time. Sharing my observation.

My 10 year old son and I recently had a date night.  We went to see a movie and the went out to eat.  It was some really special one on one time.  When we sat down at our table on the patio another family soon sat down beside us.  It was an adorable family with two precious little girls.  I couldn't help but notice that as soon as they sat down the parents each immediately pulled out their phones.  I thought maybe for a second to check something, but after watching (stalking?) them for a while I noticed that they never looked up from their phone one time to talk or interact with the girls.  It made me so sad to see that parents didn't put their phone down until the food came.  It really started me pondering  (to borrow a term from my sweet grandma) about the subject.  As a society we are raising our children to do the same thing.  They see this as an attachment to our bodies, something very important that we cannot live without.  How many times have you forgotten your phone and went all the way back home to get it?  We feel like we can't be away from it for 5 minutes.  The modern cell phone is a great invention that puts everything at our fingertips all hours of the day.  But do we really need the world at our fingertips 24/7.  Everywhere you look around you see people with this same bent head looking down at their phones.  (Which by the way can't be good for your neck!)  This is most especially a sight I see that is common with teenagers.  Games have become very addictive.  Instead of being outside and getting some fresh air and doing something fun together, people are sitting inside playing the same game over and over.  I share my thoughts with you today to encourage you to think more about your cell phone use.  Do you spend too much time?  Do you seem to get lost in it?  Most especially do you spend time on it instead of talking with your kids?  If so I encourage you to get "unplugged" for a while.  Select a weekend and go without playing games, perusing Facebook, etc. on your cell phone.  Keep it for calls only.  This week I gave up Facebook to spend some time focusing on some other things.  It was really hard when I sat down to not pick up that phone and click that blue button, but I did it.  I just had to make that decision every time I picked up the phone!

Sunday Scripture

Photo Courtesy of MJS Photography

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, 
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give 
you hope and a future.  ¹² Then you will call on me and 
come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You 
will seek me and find me when you seek me  
with all your heart.  

                                                                ~ Jeremiah 28:11-13

Amish Baked Oatmeal

This is a new addition to my breakfast recipes and the whole family loves it!! You can make it so many different ways! It's easy and healthy too! Everyone cleans their bowls when I make it and the house smells amazing!

Basic Ingredients

1/3 cup butter

2 large eggs

3/4 cup brown sugar (I have started using only 1/2 cup and it's just as good)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk (I like to use buttermilk)

3 cups regular oatmeal

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400.

2. Melt butter and set aside to cool a bit.

3. Combine eggs, brown sugar, baking powder, vanilla, cinnamon or nutmeg, and salt until there aren't any        lumps.

4. Add milk, oatmeal, and then butter and stir well.
    If you can, let it sit for 30 minutes or so, but it's NOT essential.

5. Pour into greased baking dish and bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until set in the middle.

6. Serve into bowls with warm milk poured on top.

I really like to add fruit to this recipe and that gives it so much versatility! You can arrange fresh blueberries, peaches, or apples (apples and nutmeg taste just like autumn) on the bottom before you pour the mixture in. I also stir into the mixture more of whatever fruit I'm using. I want to try it with maple extract instead of vanilla too! 

The chickens love leftovers too!

Enjoy!!

A Busy Few Months!!

Well friends, I must apologize for the lack of posts over the last few months. It's been busy but full of blessings! I'm so grateful to have the time to sit down and write again!! So, I'm easing back into the blogosphere with an update on the happenings here, at the Williams Homestead...

First, our lovely hens began laying and we are enjoying their nutritious (and pretty) gifts!!

Our white Auracana laid the pale blue one, they're my favorite!

They have definitely earned the expansion my husband added to their run...

The girls seem very happy to have space to get away from Henry the rooster!!

We got brave for a few days and let them free range in the evenings until our neighbor's dogs came over for a taste... everyone survived, but Harriet, a Golden Comet (and daily layer might I add), did suffer from a nasty bite wound across her back. We almost gave up on her, but she eventually began to walk again! I think she enjoyed her time on the back porch though!

Our dog Luke, he liked having her around too.

Our tomatoes (the only plants I was able to get in the ground this year) are so abundant, and our son has become quite the tomato picker!! I am so excited for him to do even more in the garden next year!

And the biggest news here on the farm is the arrival of our second child... another sweet boy!

'B' striking a pose.

God is so good!! 

I look forward to sharing the birth story once I get some time to write it down! Maybe I'll start by posting my first birth story so I can truly share the faith walk I have been on from the beginning!  This little one is precious! His eyes are turning blue and he has the sweetest little way he smiles... I could go on and on!!

'T' is such a loving big brother.

That brings you full circle!

 Melissa started a new job and her son a new school year so she's been busy too! She and I still have lots to write about... Schwarberg Farms now produces honey, goats milk, and a gazillion eggs!! Her son showed his lamb at the Kentucky State Fair bringing a close to his first 4H summer. We have our first Feast of Tabernacles to celebrate in October, and lots more!! Hope everyone is well and enjoying the gifts of summertime!!

Love,

Katie

Sunday Scripture

Photo courtesy of MJS Photography

Psalm 8

¹ Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
in the heavens.
² Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
³ When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?^[c]

⁵ You have made them^[d] a little lower than the angels^[e]
and crowned them^[f] with glory and honor.
⁶ You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their^[g] feet:
⁷ all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
⁸ the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

⁹ Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Sunday Scripture

Photo Credit:  MJS Photography ~ Melissa Schwarberg

⁸ Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

    for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go,

    for to you I entrust my life.

⁹ Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,

    for I hide myself in you.

¹⁰ Teach me to do your will,

    for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

    lead me on level ground. 

                                     ~ Psalm 143:8-10