Prairie Oak Homestead

I am just going to be honest...I am glad this year is almost over... It has been one of the worst years for me that I can remember. I won't go into all the dreadful details, but I've been crushed, heartbroken, drained, not as close to God, confused, and I am completely worn out. I will say that despite all the awful things that happened this year, my desire to find God in all situations did not change. Yes, I drifted away in my relationship, but just last week was snapped out of my drift and my relationship grew even closer with Christ. I am ready to make some changes in my life. This year, I want to COMPLETELY surrender my life to Him. Not just in parts, but in everything.  I realized when I thought I had submitted myself to Him, in a major area in my life, I hadn't... That area? PRIDE Oh how I have mastered the art of being prideful. It is a major problem for me. How is my cooking? Is my house clean enough? Do people like me? My way of doing things is the best way,

  They reminded me a lot of buckwheat pancakes, which I loved so much before having Celiac. I loved the nuttiness of them. These are grain free and dairy free.  Here is the recipe... 3 eggs 1 T vanilla 2 T honey 1 1/2 c almond flour (I grind my own) 1/4 t salt 1/4 t baking soda about 1/4 c water Mix eggs, vanilla, honey. Mix dry and add together. Add 1/4 c water or more to thin out the batter. Make SMALL pancakes as almond flour pancakes are harder to flip. ;) Yum! Pin It

Our dryer died two nights ago. I hadn't noticed it stopped running before it was supposed to and when I went to turn it back on, it wouldn't. My husband did some research yesterday and replaced a part. Seems to be working ok now. :)  I was encouraging to him the whole time. In the past, I would fret and hover. He has a bit of a "Tim the Tool man" reputation here at home. He wasn't shown how to fix much of anything because he and his dad didn't have a relationship until the end of his dad's life which ended when he was 50. We are thinking about getting a new washer now. We are just not sure which ones are good (top loaders, front loaders) etc. Still trying to figure that one out. :) We have errands to run today, doc appt, store, etc and I am not feeling too wonderful for it all. Didn't sleep much last night and I'm feeling weak today. I hope I can finish out this day successfully. I will do what I can.  I am thankful for my Mr. Fix It and I hop

I can't begin to tell you how good these are! With all my issues with my disease, I am trying different things to help slow the progression. Becoming grain free is one of them. I was already gluten free due to Celiac, but now I will be cutting out all grains...rice, beans, corn, etc.  These lovelies were made with ALMOND FLOUR that I ground myself.  I used the almonds with the skins on for more nutrition and fiber. These stayed wonderfully soft unlike my other chocolate chip cookies made with rice flour. (they stayed soft for a day). My family scarfed these down! Here's the recipe 5oz almond flour (1 1/4 c) (you can grind your own in a coffee grinder or get it at the store) scant 1/2 t salt 1/4 t baking soda 1/4 c honey or maple syrup 1/8 c oil (grapeseed, coconut, macadamia) 1 tsp vanilla 1/4 to 1/2 c chocolate chips of your choice (I used scant 1/2 c semi-swt Ghiradeli) Heat oven to 325. Mix almond flour, salt, and baking soda well. In a small bowl, mix honey

Please turn off the music at the bottom of the page before viewing. :)

 Not Only Christmas Day   Lord, this is my prayer Not only on Christmas Day But until I see You face to face May I live my life this way: Just like the baby Jesus I ever hope to be, Resting in Your loving arms Trusting in Your sovereignty And like the growing Christ child In wisdom daily learning, May I ever seek to know You With my mind and spirit yearning. Like the Son so faithful Let me follow in Your light, Meek and bold, humble and strong Not afraid to face the night. Nor cowardly to suffer And stand for truth alone, Knowing that Your kingdom Awaits my going home. Not afraid to sacrifice Though great may be the cost, Mindful how You rescued me From broken-hearted loss. Like my risen Savior The babe, the child, the Son, May my life forever speak Of who You are and all You've done. So while this world rejoices And celebrates Your birth, I treasure You, the greatest gift Unequaled in Your worth. I long to hear the same words That welcomed home Your Son, "

Turtle Cheesecake Bars Crust 3 cups finely chopped pecans 1 stick unsalted butter, melted 1/3 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt Cheesecake Filling 24 oz cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup full-fat Greek yogurt or sour cream 3/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla 3 large eggs 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Toppings 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans, toasted 1 11-oz bag caramel candy, unwrapped 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 6 tablespoons milk, divided Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a 13x9 pan with parchment paper, so that parchment extends over long side of pan. In a bowl, mix crust ingredients together with a fork; press mixture onto bottom of prepared pan.  Bake crust for 20 minutes; while crust bakes, prepare filling. Cream together cream cheese, yogurt or sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Beat in eggs, one at a time. After crust bakes, remove from oven and immediately sprinkle on 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Pour filling over chocolate chips and return to oven;

I've been having some rough days and go to the doc on Tuesday to see what we can do about sleep and possibly be scheduled for a sleep study. My diaphragm is weak and causing lots of difficulty breathing. At night is especially difficult when I sleep. It gets weaker as the day goes on and then has trouble lifting my rib cage while I am laying down. The sleep study will check to see what's going on and then hopefully be able to prescribe me a bipap for respiratory assistance. Some days (most days) I feel like I'm fading away... On another note...Christmas is fast approaching. Such a peaceful time of year. But, it can have it's moments of sadness. I miss so many people. It's hard feeling like in some way you have been forgotten. Families gather together this time of year and you can't help but think of those who are no longer with you. Christmas just isn't the same without those people... Despite the rough days, I will continue to rejoice in my Lord and find

 Add ingredients to crockpot in order as written... 16 oz roasted unsalted peanuts 16 oz roasted salted peanuts 1 12oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips 4 oz bar german chocolate broken 1 24 oz vanilla almond bark broken Do not stir Put crockpot on low for 3 hours. After 3 hours stir and drop onto wax paper and let cool. :) You could substitute the german chocolate for butterscotch chips if you wanted.  

Here is the answers to the questions I got :) I only had one person ask lol Stephanie, If I could visit with you I would love to know about your life journey with church. Were you raised in one and then looked around for a new one when you became an adult? I was raised in a non-practicing Catholic home (only really went to church on Christmas, Easter, and Ash Wednesday. I always felt like something was missing. Church was very boring and ritualistic to me. There was no relationship, just saints you prayed to and the virgin Mary. When my husband and I got married, we were married in the Catholic church. The very next Sunday, we didn't return to church. Instead, we started seeking other churches that focused more on the relationship with Christ. In 1999 we were baptized together in the water and started our journey. That journey has lead to many questions, meeting lots of different people (visited a Mennonite church), several out of the country mission trips, and settling down in

 I thought it would be fun to answer your questions. If any of you have any questions on homemaking, homesteading, being a helpmeet, natural remedies, my life, or anything else you have a question about, post a comment and I will answer as many as I can. :)

These are just the beginning...I hope to post more when we get more decorating done. Was just too pooped out to keep going. :) One of the oldest ornaments on the tree (upper right) It's about 36 years old. ;) My 14 yr old son is getting so big! The first ornament my husband and I got when we were first married in 96 :) I will be doing my Christmas baking next week. :) I look forward to making more good memories...

by Beverly J. Nason  On a good morning, we awake with our borrowed supply of invisible nickels in our pocket, or perhaps we find them after our first dose of Mestinon. On any given day, our nickels may add up to somewhere near a dollar. We must decide each day how to spend our precious supply.  Shall we shower, dress, make the bed, have breakfast, go to a job? Shall we recklessly spend them all at once? Perhaps, we should just use twenty-five cents, and dress without the shower or shave, leave the bed for later, and spend five to fifteen cents to have breakfast. We alone may judge from our recent experience.  Having decided, we act, and our precious payments are placed into an invisible slot, filled with invisible batteries. These batteries kick in slowly and we drain their reserve with the chosen activities. When the batteries are almost spent, we force ourselves to rest. As the day progresses, we decide to do other small chores; the shave, shower, shampoo

for the baking season! Due to my increased weakness, I have started making up cookie dough and freezing it. I don't want me or my family to miss out on the yummy treats I have made every year.  My solution was to make up different cookie doughs and freeze them. When it's time to bake, then all I have to do is take it out the night before and let it thaw in the fridge and put the dough on a cookie sheet and bake! :) We will have holiday monster cookies, sugar cookies with sprinkles, peanut blossoms, bird nests, peanut butter balls, and caramels. :) What are some shortcuts you use during the holiday season?

 This comes from my favorite devotional "Streams in the Desert" "For this our light and transitory burden of suffering is achieving for us a weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17). (Weymouth) "Is achieving for us," mark. The question is repeatedly asked--Why is the life of man drenched with so much blood, and blistered with so many tears? The answer is to be found in the word "achieving"; these things are achieving for us something precious. They are teaching us not only the way to victory, but better still the laws of victory. There is a compensation in every sorrow, and the sorrow is working out the compensation. It is the cry of the dear old hymn: "Nearer my God to Thee, nearer to Thee, E'en tho' it be a cross that raiseth me." Joy sometimes needs pain to give it birth. Fanny Crosby could never have written her beautiful hymn, "I shall see

I attempted to make fudge today. I made this recipe. It seemed easy. I didn't have the strength to make longer processed kind. Hope it turns out...never made fudge before. *gasp* Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, an easy fudge recipe, is made with only 4 ingredients.   Ingredients: 6-ounces (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup butter 1 cup sifted powdered sugar Preparation: Line an 8-inch square pan with foil and butter it. In a double boiler, melt chocolate, peanut butter and butter. Stir to combine. Stir in sugar until it melts. Pour into prepared pan. Cool and cut into squares. Store in refrigerator.

I want to see your homemade Christmas gifts! Let share our ideas! I love to make this for the holidays. :) Sore Muscle Salve Recipe This is a wonderful homemade salve you can make right in your own kitchen. It is much like Tiger Balm. It is a warming salve. Would make a great gift. 1 c Calendula infused olive oil (or cayenne infused oil for extra strength) 1.3 oz beeswax 50 drops camphor essential oil 50 drops eucalyptus/peppermint essential oil 30 drops cajuput essential oil 20 drops clove essential oil 20 drops cinnamon essential oil 1 vitamin e capsule Heat beeswax with oil 30 sec at a time until melted. Add essential oils and vitamin e capsule. Pour into containers. I use 1 oz tins. Makes about 8-10 oz. Here are the rules to my link party... 1. Please post something YOU made. It doesn't matter if it is crochet, quilt, clothing, baked goods, anything would be fine. I want to see it! If you use someone's idea or patterns please give them the rightful credit. 2.

 I love this time of year with it's pretty lights, crisp air, wonderful old Christmas songs, beautifully lit Christmas trees, Christmas cookies, lit up nativity scenes, sharing gifts with others, celebrating our Savior's birth with our church family, decorating the house all cozy like, listening to the crackle of the woodstove, and watching snow fall softly (hasn't happened yet this year). This time of year makes me smile and brings joy to my heart. It's just very special. Lots of good memories associated with this season...and that my friends is what I cherish.

From Tonya at Humble Homemaker...She put into words what my heart feels.  I Am A Wife Too often I sense myself slipping from my God appointed role as feminine Queen of my castle to masculine warden of my domain. Because this season of my life demands more of my time, energy, and patience I need to remember my priorities and put them into practice. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world -- how she can please her husband. ~ 1Corinthians 7:34 God is my Well where I soak up His goodness to give me the strength to go forth into my future with passion and purpose. I commune with Him to have a relationship built on true love because I know Him and spend time with Him. I can then set the stage in my home for my children to enter into genuine relationship with their Creator. Ushering them into His plan. However, I

This deliciousness comes from Tasty Kitchen. This was fantastic. Turned our wonderful even with being modified to be gluten free. :) This bread has the goodness of an apple pie wrapped up in a streusel topped quick bread. Preparation Instructions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. If using a glass loaf pan bake 25 degrees lower. In a large bowl beat the butter and sugars together until combined. Add the buttermilk and baking powder; and beat until combined. Add eggs and vanilla; and beat until combined. Add flour, apple pie spice and salt; beat until combined. Toss the apples and nuts in a bit of flour before adding to the batter. By hand, stir in the nuts and apples. Spoon batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Prepare the streusel topping (instructions below) and sprinkle over the batter. Bake for 60 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean

Seems strange right? Give thanks for suffering? Who would want to do that? Me... Let me explain. When I was young I learned that life wasn’t always easy. I was a bit thin and pale and was quickly made fun of being called albino girl, chicken legs, etc. Of course that hurt. But, it made me realize that life wasn’t always kind. I would lay in my bed at night and talk to God. A God I hardly knew. One that I created characteristics about in my mind. He was a kind person, compassionate, and loving. I would picture Him seated on a throne and me bowing down at His feet pouring my heart out to Him. I would ask for forgiveness for the bad things I did. He would reach down and take my hand and lift me up from bowing at His feet and say, “Come my child” and He would seat me on His lap and hug me. I would bury my face in His chest and cry in amazement of such a loving, caring God. He would smile. Since those childhood days, I lost track of Him for a while. I grew up. I forgot about our nightl

I get up most days between 5 and 6.  It's dark, it's quiet and it gives me time to plan my day, spend time with the Lord, and just plain wake up lol.   Today is rainy and dreary. It seems weird, but it's peaceful to me. The warmth of the woodstove makes the weather so much more bearable. :) Yesterday was a much better day for me. I was able to do more, was in much less pain, and even had some energy. :) It's amazing what a difference a day makes with this disease. It changes day to day and even more so in someone like me whose illness is considered brittle. I appreciate my good days so much more. :) I am making gumbo for supper tonight. :) Seems like a good day to do so with the weather being the way it is. I love cozy meals.  I have so many things to be thankful for.  I have a wonderful husband who loves me and our son very much and has a heart for God, a warm home in the country, a sweet little dog to brighten my day, and great friends and family. Tomorrow I will

If you have been following my blog for any length of time, you know that I started a treatment a while ago (sm dose chemo) for my Myasthenia Gravis. I had to come off it. I got so sick, severe stomach and abd pain to the point of almost passing out, kidney pain, trouble sleeping, and heart issues. There will be no more treatment for me... I will only be treated with Mestinon, which I have been on for about 13 yrs. I have to learn to live with my increased weakness and pain. This disease is progressing and the only thing that will slow it down is the good Lord Himself.  I was disappointed that I had to miss church this morning. I was so weak I couldn't hold a magazine up for any length of time. I was also so short of breath that my husband said I sounded like I just ran a race... Just wanted to update everyone about the situation. I covet your prayers for daily strength. As I sit here now, I can barely sit up in my chair and keep my head up...so weak. (So thankful for recliners!

"Perfect through suffering" (Heb. 2:10). Steel is iron plus fire. Soil is rock, plus heat, or glacier crushing. Linen is flax plus the bath that cleans, the comb that separates, and the flail that pounds, and the shuttle that weaves. Human character must have a plus attached to it. The world does not forget great characters. But great characters are not made of luxuries, they are made by suffering. I heard of a mother who brought into her home as a companion to her own son, a crippled boy who was also a hunchback. She had warned her boy to be very careful in his relations to him, and not to touch the sensitive part of his life but go right on playing with him as if he were an ordinary boy. She listened to her son as they were playing; and after a few minutes he said to his companion: "Do you know what you have got on your back?" The little hunchback was embarrassed, and he hesitated a moment. The bo

I can't believe how fast this year has gone by! Tomorrow is Thanksgiving already.  This year I am not cooking a meal. We were invited by some friends to come enjoy Thanksgiving with them and their family. Randy and Shawnda and some great people.  They were a great help while I was in the hospital, too. I am thankful for so many things...Christ who saved my soul, my husband and his wisdom and care, his love for me, my son who is becoming quite the young man, my home where I lay my head and care for my family, and my church family who has shown me so much love.  I am also thankful for good food, woodstoves, rainy nights, the sound of frogs, the beauty of a sunset, the people I was blessed to meet in Venezuela, and fresh eggs from our chickens. :) Happy Thanksgiving! I wish I could say that to everyone I am not able, but I'm sure they know they are thought of often. :) I pray you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Remember Who to thank. :)

I just want to say how much I love my husband. :)  This past weekend he really helped me get through a rough time with coming to terms with my disease...Myasthenia Gravis.  You see, in the past, I would pretend not to have this disease and do as I pleased. I would do whatever I wanted and would push myself hard. Only in the evenings would I then be weak and tired. But that is not the case anymore... I am weak and tired as soon as I wake up in the morning.  There is no trying to pretend I don't have this disease...even though I've had it for 14 yrs now. There is also no denying it's progression. My husband told me not to pretend I don't have this disease anymore, but rather REMEMBER I have it and in so doing be a better steward my strength and time.  It's part of who I am.  I have started my sm dose chemo and so far have just had stomach pain, no nausea and a bit of heart issues with it, too. Nothing to worry about yet. Praying I will be able to stay on this medi

I have found it difficult the last few days to keep a good attitude...I'm just being honest. I have been SO tired that my nerves seem to be frazzled. Every noise, irritation, etc brings tension to my body. I have had such a hard time being still in my mind and body. My thoughts go a hundred miles an hour, constantly thinking on something or other.  I just don't feel settled. I haven't felt settled since I got home from the hospital. I could be that my body is just so weak and wore down and I am just so exhausted. I haven't been able to get back to things like I wanted and it makes me irritated. Can anyone relate? I certainly don't like this attitude I have. I have prayed and asked God to release this sourness I feel in my soul. I realize it is a choice to have an unbecoming attitude and I am trying very hard to make good choices when situations arise. I want a gentle spirit... Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quie

Just like cinnamon rolls, but with a few add-ins like pumpkin, maple syrup and nutmeg! Delicious fresh and warm out of the oven and perfect for fall! Ingredients FOR THE ROLLS: 1 package   (2 1/2 Teaspoons In A Package) Active Dry Yeast ½ cups   Warm Water ½ cups   Warm Milk ¼ cups   Melted Butter, Cooled ⅔ cups   Granulated Sugar For The Dough, Plus 1/4 Teaspoon For Proofing Yeast 1 teaspoon   Salt ¾ cups   Pumpkin Puree 6 cups   All Purpose Flour (give Or Take 1 Cup) _____ FOR THE FILLING: ¼ cups   Maple Syrup 2 Tablespoons   Melted Butter ¾ cups   Brown Sugar 2 Tablespoons   Cinnamon ½ teaspoons   Nutmeg - Optional _____ FOR THE GLAZE: 2 cups   Powdered Sugar ¼ teaspoons   Vanilla Extract ¾ teaspoons   Maple Flavoring Or Extract 3 Tablespoons   Milk Preparation Instructions In a large bowl, sprinkle yeast and 1/4 teaspoon sugar over the

"Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me" (Luke 7:23). It is sometimes very difficult not to be offended in Jesus Christ. The offenses may be circumstantial. I find myself in a prison-house--a narrow sphere, a sick chamber, an unpopular position--when I had hoped for wide opportunities. Yes, but He knows what is best for me. My environment is of His determining. He means it to intensify my faith, to draw me into nearer communion with Himself, to ripen my power. In the dungeon my soul should prosper. The offense may be mental. I am haunted by perplexities, questions, which I cannot solve. I had hoped that, when I gave myself to Him, my sky would always be clear; but often it is overspread by mist and cloud. Yet let me believe that, if difficulties remain, it is that I may learn to trust Him all the more implicitly--to trust and not be afraid. Yes, and by my intellectual conflicts, I am train

 We rescued her from the pound. :) She is a rat terrier mix and we named her Daisey Mae. She is checking out our other dog, Magnum, a doberman pincher.    Hunter is playing with her. :) She loves to sleep next to you. She is 4 mos old and last night was her first night here and she did great! She slept in her crate from 9 to 5 (because I got up to let her out, she was still asleep lol). I think tomorrow I will let her (and me) sleep in and see how that goes. She makes me smile :) I got a call from the pharmacy late last night letting me know my Cellcept (sm dose chemo) was ready to pick up...huh?  She said the pharmacist had it overrided. So I will start my first dose of treatment tomorrow night. Go tomorrow to find out if I can still switch plans that will cover it in the future. :) Now let's pray I can tolerate it. Should see some slowing in progression of this disease in 3 to 8 mos if my body can take it. :)