I am so thankful !!!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5

My new cozy kitchen!!!:-)

((( You may double click on each picture , if you would like to see enlarged)))

After 3 months of renovations, we finally finished our kitchen.

When we first moved to our farm almost 9 years ago, our kitchen, living room ,and dinning room was way too small for a family of 9 plus all sorts of others that are always here *grin*. Since then , we have added a wonderful addition that is now our living room in which allowed us to expand our kitchen with the dinning room, however, I was *dreaming* to make the increase even larger so we could have more space not only for ourselves but also have friends and church family over more often.

Yesterday , I was able to lit my stove and heat up water for hot chocolate. The entire kitchen was so very warm and cozy, grin! Praise be to God , whom all blessing are from!

Our large table is 9ft long. It is about 120 years old.It is simple but sturdy.

These are the stoves that I cook everyday. they are both from 1920's. The left is a wood stove and the right is a gas stove.

Since we first moved here, I dreamt about having a window that faces my barn and the pond . Yes, I had this large doors that brings light but a window over the sink is something that I love deeply... don't know why...grin

I collect tin cans as you can see,grin, the green cabinet has its original stamp and is marked 1889. I keep my cups there.

Can you see my barn???*smiles*

I left for last to show you one of my pets that I just adore..... please meet **Loro**... my companion Amazon bird. He is so sweet and his favorite thing in this world is to be with me. He loves the children but he does not like Mark. Well, I think he IS a LOT like Mark in many ways!!!*grin*

I will leave you with a page from my sketch book. I did this ths morning at church . I already have the idea in my head of what the next illustration will be , but I still need to work on the children's faces after all, faces are very important.

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.
Jeremiah 29:11

The Diamond Story

(What I am about to tell you is a real story however because it happened with my own family, I will avoid names)
Few weeks ago I was holding a diamond in my hands. It was a *fake* one ,but beautiful any way. As I was wrapping this *precious* stone to send to a dear friend of mine, as a friendship gift, when a *real* story came back to my mind.

I need to give you a little background information or you will be lost . I was raised mostly in a farmland in Brazil, my maternal side of family still lives there and there is were this story took its place.

My grandparents were Christians and they taught their children to love and fear God from young age. One of them, my uncle loved the Lord and served his days practicing his Christianity in many forms but some how , he became “lost” in disbelieve. He walked way from God and with many questions in his mind and heart , he isolated himself from loved ones and the world.

One day , a stranger came to his farm . He knocked at his door and asked for a glass of water. This strange man was in his mid -twenties . He introduced himself, lets call him Peter, and asked my uncle permission to gather under a tree near a river that was part of my uncle’s property. Let me interrupt my self to describe this place a little bit so you can understand *why* would some one ask this.

In Northeastern of Bahia, Brazil, the land is very dry… almost a desert . Rain is something very special for the people that lives there. Nothing grows well unless one has the financial meanings to artificial irrigation. It is a true bless to live by the river. My uncle was and is a blessed man.

Uncle asked him why was he gathering and Peter explain that he was a man of God and he want to bring the Good News to others. Uncle was not willing at first but somehow he agreed. Sunday came and so did Peter and a small group. I don’t remember how many but I think was 2 or 3, only. They stopped by to greed my lonely uncle and invited him to join them but he said “no -thank you.”

The tree is called IMBUZEIRO (Spondia tuberosa) it means “water to drink” and when as a mature tree it produces its fruit ( one of my favorites,grin, imbu) and this tree gives a cool shade. Uncle has an old imbuzeiro near the edge of the river. Just perfect. ( I remember as a kid climbing these trees, grin)

A week pass and Peter came back. He again asked my uncle if he could gather once more, and the same thing happened for the few next weeks however it was the seventh week, as Peter would continually ask permission and invite my uncle to join them (and he never did)that my uncle told Peter that he had a question for him.

He them asked:

Peter, as God is the creator of all things , how do you explain the existence of a diamond as scientists claims that diamonds are as old as 3 billion year and according to the bible the universe is only 6000 years old?

Peter listened to the question and humbly told uncle that he needed to think and look for answer in the Scriptures. He told uncle that he would come back with the answer soon.

It was a week later when my uncle was sitting at his porch when he spotted a man walking in his direction. That was Peter, the young preacher, he thought. He was curious to hear what Peter had to say.Peter greeted uncle and after having a tall glass of water , after all -the walk was a long one under that hot sun, he said to my uncle:

I look into the the Word of God and I pray a lot about before the Lord sent me the answer ,continue Peter, YOU answered that question when you asked me. God created all things . He created all things including the new and old. When God made the diamonds he made it old as it is and always will be .He had the power to do so and that is what He did.

My uncle was shocked and this hit him right in the center of his heart. As he watched this young man (for the last time in his life),in a clean but very worn pants and shirt with a small tie and flip-flops ( that was his best clothes) walked way. He felt in his knees and repented.

My momma told me this story. I still cry when I think about the marvelous God that we serve . I am amazed by His infinite and unchangeable love.

I want to share with you one of my favorite hymns: please read the words:

And Can It Be that I Should Gain

Text: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

Music: Thomas Campbell



1.And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's blood! Died he for me? who caused his pain! For me? who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

2. 'Tis mystery all: th' Immortal dies! Who can explore his strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine. 'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more. 'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more.

3. He left his Father's throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!), emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race. 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me! 'Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!

4. Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature's night; thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

5. No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine; alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach th' eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own. Bold I approach th' eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Homemade Bread!

This past week , My family and I had to deal with a lot of things that were not pleasant. In one of our 4 barns , we had a terrible problem that required every one's help. It is all taken cared now and to be honest with you , I don't even want to remember anymore however; that was a wonderful way that God brought me to prayers and thanks given.
Today was the first day since these past events that I felt more relaxed. Becca, fetched some fresh herbs from the garden and I am now slowly cooking a wonderful chicken in a iron pot and on my old , old stove.
She has also learned how to cut green ( collard ) like my mum. It is so fine ...almost shredded. It took her over one hour to cut about 20 leaves. Tonight I will be fixing it with garlic, olive oil, red wine, vinegar and turkey bacon...it is the best!*grin*
My greens are not over cooked like most people do... they are more like stir-fried and it is a success in my home. Becca call it -*seaweed*.*grin*

I also baked whole bread.... some sweet bread too.... raisin bread.
I about to cut a slice and have with tea but first I thought of you and perhaps you too needed today to be reminded that life is good and God is always Gracious. Let's praise HIM!