A lovely evening

I went for a drive this evening. It was lovely out the bank thermometer said 73 degrees and there was a lovely breeze blowing. I took a picture when I was coming home. I thought it was pretty.
Amy

Orange Marmalade Layer cake

Orange Mamalade Layer Cake, yummy yummy yummy. Made for a birthday today as well as one for the baby shower yesterday. Will be posted with more info on the bakery page.

The problem with being snippy and other fun things

The last two days were long days. I had so many troubles it is not even funny. Let me give you a brief run down of a few of the things that made today SPECIAL

1 washed pair of shorts with my laundry that my youngest had accident in. I then dried the load of laundry got dressed for church and realized when I got to church that my clothes smelled like previously mentioned accident, yeah!!

2 discovered that the Orange Marmalade Cupcakes that I made from scratch and then covered up and put on the counter had been walked all over and layed upon by a CAT!! thankfully they were not frosted yet.

3 ran behind getting food finished for baby shower since I ran behind due to having to rewash laundry after I made it home from church yeah yeah!!!

4 stood in pouring rain waiting for people who were standing under an overhang to bring me things to load in the car, finally walked over and discovered they all figured I was going to move the car so were standing there waiting on me.

5 daughter has helium balloons tied together and attached to a bracelet. They blew away in the pouring rain, I discovered while moving the car to the parking spot, that they had come down in the street, now I was not sure what bracelet they were tied to, so I drove out onto Douglas Ave in Wichita a 4 lane road, rounded a corner cause they were blowing west parked the car jumped out in the pouring rain lost my shoes so ran barefoot into the street to grab the balloons yeah I got them right, they were tied to a 50 cent bracelet from a vending machine.

6 I AM SOAKED

Due to the many things that had occurred, I was weary and became snippy in my replies to some people. I hate being grouchy. I am almost immediately sorry as I was today. The saying you will catch more flies with honey than vinegar is very true. As my snippy comment did not get a response really which is how it should be.

I can't remember the verse, but I think it goes "A soft answer turneth away wrath" not sure and right now I am too weary to look it up.

How easy it is sometimes to fall into the habit of just being snippy with people. I have been working on remembering the old saying "If you haven't anything nice to say don't say anything at all" And while alot of the time my snippyness is in response to someone else being snippy does that give me an excuse to be that way,ummmmmmm probably not.

God wants us to love on another and to bless one another, and being snippy is not doing either of these things. And I have been praying to for the wisdom to be able to know when to speak and when to say nothing, I do not want to be "the fool who goes where angels fear to tread"

Tiredly
Amy

An email from the Ksmilkmaid that blessed me

We all struggle of course, and the Ks Milkmaid seems to send me emails right when they are needed that bless me. You know that bad commercial help I have fallen and I can't get up. Well sometimes we all feel this way. We just have to remember that this isn't so. We can get up, with God's help. Anyway here is the email I received and wanted to share with you due to the wonderful words of wisdom Chirstina had to share with me.
Hugs
Amy


I fell down



The cursor blinks methodically as I drum my fingers on the desk. Patiently I wait for Outlook to download emails from my server. A few email messages trickle in, just a handful compared to the oodles of emails I used to receive a few months ago. Shutting down the Kansas Milkmaid blog slowed life down. I use the mouse to click and delete the junk mail. Who knows why I am receiving so much spam? It never happened before the attacks began. Nah..surely not….. One email catches my eye? The subject line reads “How are you?” An old blog reader wants to know. There are still a few who write and ask. I often wonder how to answer such a question. Each day carries its own intense struggles and triumphs. It is anybody’s guess whether it will be a good or bad day or a mixture of both. Then it dawned on me. Here is what I should say….





“I have fallen down. It is so hard to even speak.”







These two sentences capture the breadth of emotions I experience. Yes, I have fallen down heaving tears unable to speak due to terror and fear of what is going on in my life. What does my future hold? Will I have the strength to carry on? Will my enemies feast on my life like vultures pecking at decaying road kill? How will I provide for my six children? Will we have a home? Does the farm have a future? What is going to happen to me?



Falling down is not a bad thing. It is a requirement for being broken and contrite. You see, I believe we all fall down. We fall down before something. Many days I fall down before the god of fear and despair. It is not a good place to be. Laying flat before this tyrant giant can eat away a person’s sanity and strip one of peace.



Why should I fall down before the enemy in fear when there is another option? As a Christian I have the opportunity in the midst of trials to fall down before a great and glorious God. Yes, God’s beauty still shines in harrowing darkness.



Have you ever fallen before God? Have you ever been in His presence and been so in awe of Him that you can barely even speak? Why not stop drenching the bed in tears and drench my hope in Him?





Oh God, I am in a dark place. I hurt in ways that I didn’t think a woman could ever hurt. The attacks are strong and twisted. Yet, I fall down before you, Oh great and Glorious God. I will give you Glory. The enemy will not reduce my devotion to you. You are my God and I give my all to you. You are my God, the great I AM.



This article was inspired by the song “Give You the Glory” by Jeremy Camp



Join me in raising a thousand voices to lift God’s holy name. No matter how bad life gets, you can still choose to fall down before God rather than the enemy you face. Remember falling down before God dwarfs the enemy.





Udderly His,



The Kansas Milkmaid





We have raised a thousand voices
Just to lift Your holy name
And we will raise thousands more
To sing of Your beauty in this place
Well none can even fathom
No not one define Your worth
As we marvel in Your presence
To the ends of the earth.

We give You glory,
Lifting up our hands and singing holy,
You alone are worthy
We just want to touch Your heart, Lord, touch Your heart
Glory, lifting up our voice and singing holy,
You alone are worthy
We just want to touch Your heart, Lord, touch Your heart

As we fall down before You
With our willing hearts we seek
In the greatness of Your glory
It's so hard to even speak
There is nothing we can offer
No nothing can repay
So we give You all our praises
And lift our voice to sing

We give You glory,
Lifting up our hands and singing holy,
You alone are worthy
We just want to touch Your heart, Lord, touch Your heart
Glory, lifting up our voice and singing holy,
You alone are worthy
We just want to touch Your heart, Lord, touch Your heart

Our hope is drenched in You
Our faith has been renewed
We trust in Your every word
Nothing else can even measure up to You.

We give You glory,
Lifting up our hands and singing holy,
You alone are worthy
We just want to touch Your heart, Lord, touch Your heart
Glory, lifting up our voice and singing holy,
You alone are worthy
We just want to touch Your heart, Lord, touch Your heart

Saturdays Bake Day

Busy Busy Busy today!!! I have an order for a fudge cake for a birthday for tomorrow, plus I am making orange marmalade cupcakes for my sister baby shower tomorrow. I discovered I forgot to buy buttermilk, I needed to make butter anyway so I got busy and am making butter which has the lovely result of the leftover product being butter milk. Pretty cool, LOL. Saved a trip to the store and money. Plus my husband loves homemade butter, so he will be happy!! I will post pictures in the next couple of days of the cakes. I am still working on finishing up all the projects for Miss Emmas, so everyone keep your fingers crossed. I wopuld cross mine, but they are too busy, LOL. HAve an awesome weekend. I will try to post something more intedrsting latter.

Amy

No More Milk Guest Blog from the Kansas Milkmaid

No More Milk!


Farming brings you close to creation. I pause when doing chores and listen to the creation speak about the wonders of God. Often I observe the animals and note profound lessons about my own humanity in the context of God’s majesty. For example, look at this picture of Marco.

We just separated him from his mother. We were trying to move him to a different paddock on the farm. Marco just wouldn’t cooperate. We decided we would have better luck with a halter. However, he had never been on a halter before. Marco did not want to budge. We desperately tried to lead him to the lush green pasture. As a farmer, I knew it was time for him to rely more on solid food, to grow and develop. But, Marco wanted his mother’s milk. He locked down with all the stubborn self will a Jersey steer can muster.

When I looked at this picture of Marco, I thought of my own stubborn self will. Christ often attempts to lead me to green pastures. He is encouraging me to grow and mature, but I lock down and won’t budge. I think the status quo is better. I don’t want change and I don’t want to be refined either. I lock down just like this stubborn Jersey steer. I can’t remain on milk forever. I need solid food.

Hebrews 5:13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Udderly His,

The Kansas Milkmaid

Hello and Happy Monday!!

Hello everyone. I hope everyone is having an awesome day!!! I must say all the lovely comments I have received from readers of this blog have just made my day. I think there must be some of the sweetest people checking out this blog!!! Thank you!! I have been busy getting things together for Miss Emmas. I have a number of things going. Boy I need to get busy!! LOL. I will also be offering handmade Christmas Cards as well as notecards, birthday cards, etc. Special request can be made for cards if there is something in particular someone is wanting. I would just need a little extra time to get it sent out. I will be posting some tea party ideas soon on the Tea Room page, so for those intereted check back perhpas later this evening or tomorrow.

Be Blessed
Amy

Miss Emmas Tidbit Shop

Miss Emmas is not yet ready for people to visit as I need to add more to it. LOL. That requires a bit of time. Hopefully by August 1st there will be enough to make it worth while, maybe earlier, you never know!!

Have an awesome weekend.
Amy

Thoughts for my blog

I think next month when I HOPE to have more time, LOL, I plan to add more to either the cake blog or even another blog linked to mine. It will have information on my tea parties and family occasions. I have pictures to add and information to share on how to throw and decorate for tea parties, wedding receptions, dinners etc. Alot of these ideas are for those on a budget. Cause with 6 kids unless we some day become millionaires ; ) we will always been on some sort of a budget, LOL Of course I have lots of awesome ideas for those not on a budget as well!!! I should also have more pics of cakes here soon. I also plan to perhaps offer a variety items for sale as well. Purses with darling trims, decorated picture frames, aprons, notebooks, cards, etc. Perhaps a purse filled with a matching notebook and cards!! I am not sure what the interest will be but we shall see. It can't hurt to try. I also plan to begin "catering" tea parties for ladies groups and perhaps ladies and little girls birthday parties, which I plan to offer a full service for hand stamped invitations, activities,and goodie bags as well as providing all glassware and silverware for as well as teacups and even down to the tablecloths and napkins, birthday cakes and all food etc. I will use the best ingredients no margarine or shortning fake vanilla, etc, in fact I make alot of things from scratch using organic flour and sugar farm eggs and fresh milk and cream and butter. All you will need to provide is the place and table and chairs. Anyway lots of ideas and lots of things planned.

Be Blessed Everyone
Amy

Kansas Milkmaid guest blog post

Hello I spoke to Christina (KS Milkmaid) she is doing well!! She sounded so encouraged which is AWESOME!!!! She mentioned that she had an old blog post, posted on another blog, and if I was interested I should post it as well. So I tracked it down and have posted it here for any readers who would like to read it, it is very good.

Amy


From Christina

This is an old article I wrote back in Jan of 2007. It was about a month before I had asked Brian to leave. I was enduring personal private cruelty and pain. However, I had not endured the public cruelty that I have endured right now. I found this article because I have been watching my enemies search through blog archives and archive search engines seeking to find ways to devour me. I know they probably skipped past this article…but my own words really spoke to me.

This past week, I was on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. I wanted to cash it all in. The pain of seeing all the slander and facing Brian's defense lawyer in the divorce hearing was nearly incapacitating. I had one friend who has known me since I was 15 call me and remind me that they want me to cash it in. This is the strategy to get me to give up and take my life. She knew Brian very well and said, “If he can’t have you, he will try to ruin you and this is the ruining process.” She asked where was the fighter who battled to get away from her abusive mother. She told me to get mad or something but don't give up. I found something better than getting mad. Instead of anger, I can have love. I can be thankful to my enemy for this activity. They by their wickedness are refining me. Some of the blog articles they are reading have hints of pompous pride in them. Boy, I am kind of ashamed. When I return to writing, I will be a different kind of writer. As write about domestic violence in Christian homes, I will need to polish this aspect of my character. I must because the goal of writing is not to tell what he (Brian) and his family did to me, but to tell what HE (God, the great I AM) did to me and for me through this trial.

I didn't realize I would be eating the words that I wrote so long ago. The articles they are pulling I will have to answer to in some way. But what is even better is that I have to eat this article. I wrote it and it reveals the survivor in me. No, it reveals the conqueror in me. Through Him we are more than conquerors. I am tired of being the victim, ladies. I want to survive this now. I am tired of being silenced. I want to talk not about the abuse, but about what God is doing for me through the abuse. When I shut down my blog, I felt like the apostles. They were before the Sanhedrin and told to stop talking about God. They were put in prison and told to stop. I felt imprisoned but I know better. I am being grown through this persecution and this silence. God will not be constrained in our lives when we offer ourselves as his tool and instrument. Oh this period of silence is a powerful momentum building kind of thing. I can't wait to return to writing with a powerful message. Ladies, I am silent right now, but the silence will ultimately deafen the enemy. The momentum is building. It is so exciting!!!

If you want to add your own preface to this article you are welcome too based on what I have said above. I would love to publish somehow that I am not only praying for my enemies, but I thank them for they are helping me to change. Praise God for peace that surpasses all understanding. Most domestic violence advocates tell me not to be a victim but a survivor. As a Christian, I say I want to take that a step further. I am a conqueror. MORE than a conqueror.

Have a blessed Lord's day!!!
Christina

Enemies Janurary 7, 2007 Posted @ 5:38 am
Hatred, negativity, and cruelty run deep in the character of man. Our world has vast amounts of evil at every turn. It is commonplace to say whatever you feel and do whatever you want, and there is very little emphasis on serving other people. The mantra is "It's my life and I will live it the way I want it to." Or … "I can say what I want and it is your fault if you misinterpret it and are offended." These days the standards of morality are so low that it seems just about anything goes, especially in how we treat others. You just can't miss the brutality rampant in society today. Flip on the television (no, don't really), and prime time television will show you the norm for society today. Violent video games don't help much.

Even more troubling is the absence of God at every turn. He has been informed that he is not welcome in the government schools. Likewise, government has told him to get out. Worse, I believe there is strong evidence that we have tried to push him out of the church, also. All over America, people claim to be Christians. Yet look around us, and witness our society. Perhaps the most heinous crime committed is by those who give lip-service to Christianity and live their lives tearing down, destroying, and actively engaging in cruelty. The incredible thing about man, and the sin in which we indulge, is the skillful cunning art of justification. Truly destructive sin will take goodness and twist it slyly for the purpose of destroying.

Living a life in pursuit of righteousness will provoke people who are vile. They can't stand it. Moreover, they can't understand it. They see the joy and think it can't be real. They don't experience it, so they curse, hiss, and attack until their bloodlust is satisfied. It doesn't matter how humbly you present your life, they will roam about seeking something to devour. It doesn't matter if you present yourself as a sinner and repent of your shortcomings; they are there ready to keep track of all the wrongs in permanent marker. Most of the time, it boils down to jealousy over contentment achieved. They feel shorted because their lives don't reap joyous fruit. Life is filled with these kinds of people.

It is easy to wear our emotions on our sleeves and whimper about our lack of supporters. It is easy to get hurt over the negativity. Yet, we must realize that we are promised persecution. We know the benefits of persecution as demonstrated in the bible. The church grew under persecution. But get this … we were saved because of full effect of persecution. The ultimate persecution sent Christ to the cross. We were redeemed because of vile hatred. That hatred came from none other than religious folk. Oh yes, friends. I hurt when I am attacked. I ache when my best, most contrite intentions are vilified. However, I know God gave me these enemies for many good reasons. He gave me enemies to help me understand his great love for me. It is through loving my enemies that I come to understand the amazing unconditional love of God for mankind. Enemies, if rightly applied, can help us balance out ego and pride. Wouldn't it be nice if we were all surrounded by groupies with 100 percent support? No. We would be some sick puppies in the ego department for sure.

We can't stop living for Christ because someone doesn't support us. We can't stop proclaiming the good news because we have Pharisees at every turn with permanent markers. Keep proclaiming the gospel. Keep trying to express the inexpressible joy. Let's drown out the negativity with the full peace that surpasses all understanding. Examine what the enemy says. Do you need to change something to be more Christ-like? Then make that change. But Heaven forbid that the enemy silences you.

Matthew 5:44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Project for the last few days

Yeah!!!!!! I finished decorating 4 notebooks for baby shower game gifts. I recovered them and added the fluffy stuff at the top as well as the pics. And the cool thing is I found matching pens. The sayings are DANCE TO THE SONG OF LIFE, HELLO GIRLFRIEND, and TO MEAN SOMETHING TO SOMEONE IS THE GREATEST SATISFACTION IN LIFE. I used all TAC stamps (The Angel Company) the fibers and ribbons I bought at walmart. They turned out cute!!! Okay now on to the next project. LOL

Have a great night everyone.
Amy

Big Happenings out back, LOL

It is tree trimming day here in the neighborhood. They boys are enjoying watching the work, But they are cutting down all the trees out back sniff sniff sniff ........................ poor trees. I guess the city wanted them trimmed so,...... they are BUTCHERING them. And I do mean butchering. We had a knock on the door early this morning and the young man said hey we are trimming trees and bushes in the alley, is it okay to trim yours we were like sure. Okay my definition of trimming and his definition of trimming are so way different it is not even funny. Okay for me a trim is shorten them, you know below the power lines, for his it is cut them to the ground. I kid you not!!!! I don't like it out back anymore it feels like a nightmare of being nude in front of a class, LOL. I never actually had that particular nightmare, but I can now see all the houses on the blocks behind me, were as before we had a lovely privacy screen. Sigh.................. I hope they grow back fast. I hate it. AHHHHHHHHHHH

Thoughts on blog readers and the Kansas Milkmaid

Oh and a note to the readers of blog. It is nice to know that I have repeat readers. It make me feel good. I must not be too boring, LOL. I know a some are my family and friends, Hi there!!! ; )

Some I know are from a few groups I belong to. There are so many of you nice ladies who have alot of good advice to offer. I also enjoy reading a number of others blogs myself. And I have noticed some from those. And for those who just have stumbled on here hello and welcome I hope you visit again.

What is especially interesting about you dear readers, is that I have noticed that I have an especially frequent reader from here in Kansas. One who I would have thought might not be here as often as she is, due to my support of the Kansas Milkmaid and her obvious leanings the other direction which is her right, I feel someone must be fishing. I have been amazed that you have sometimes visited 4 or more times in 24 hours sometimes staying almost and hour. What is most interesting is the attempts to defame the KsMilkmaid to other blog writers, and supporters of the Kansas Milkmaid. This is interesting to me due to the fact that I have not received any more of these lovely notes, since the first anonymous comment, most likely because I have set in the courtroom and heard the truth. It's kinda hard to dispute what I have heard with my own ears and witnessed with my own eyes. Anyway hello to you.

I am praying for all those involved that they can be healed. And by everyone I mean EVERYONE!!!

I hope I have offended no one with this post. I just felt the need to address this.

Amy

Monday

Another Monday. At least it is summer so no worries about school. Not much going on I finished my present that I need to finish over the weekend, yeah!!!! I will post a picture next week, after I give it to the person who is receieving it. I have a few more projects that I want to get done this week.

School supplies are on sale, yeah, as I am starting school for my 5 year old this year we needed pencils, erasers, and color crayons and such. Exciting for him, I am a bit nervous though personally. I have been homeschooling for going on 4 years, but all my older kids could already ready and write and spell when we began. LOL!!! So that means I am starting fresh and have to teach him everything!!! And then my youngest next year. Oh well I am sure we will be fine. My kids are very smart and so they will probably be reading circles around me in no time!!!


Well I need to run gotta finish sewing some curtains and must run to the bank.

Hope everyone has an awesome day!!
Amy

Yesterdays project

I had this picture frame. it was very plain. So I decided to decorate it. Thought I would share my latest endeavor. I used all TAC paper, The Angel Company, these papers are just awesome. The orange and yellow ribbon from the bow is also running around the outside of the frame as a finishing touch. I really liked how this turned out. I am thinking of making more. I wonder if they might be something someone would purchase, LOL. You know you always hope you can stumble across something you like to do that people would be willing to purchase. Wouldn't that be awesome, I guess I should just try.

Anyway have an awesome day!!!

Amy