A Tale of Snowflakes and Flapjacks

I am definitely a morning person.  I love facing a new day, feeling the crisp, cool weather of the early morning, and sipping a hot cup of coffee as I watch the sunrise.  It is in those moments that I feel the most joyous, the most blessed to have been given life on this earth.  One day last week I awoke to a very special morning, one that, every time it comes around, fills me with a special excitement and joy.  When I went to the window a landscape of white greeted me.  Our first snow!  It was truly beautiful.
 

My lovely morning did not end there.  As much as I hate telling it, I must share a rather embarrassing story before I can explain to you just why this morning got better as it went on.

You see, a few weeks ago, Isaac challenged me to a very fatal gluten-free pancake bake-off.  Gluten-free because my Mamma is trying not to eat gluten, and pancake because she was wanting something other than oatmeal or quinoa porridge for breakfast.  I accepted the challenge.  After all, how bad could it really be?  *Ahem*  After half an hour of frenzied mixing and flipping, all we were left with was a mass of so many inedible blobs.  To say that our flapjacks were a flop is quite an understatement.

However, I am happy to say that all that is forever behind us!  On the morning of our first snow, Isaac and Mamma surprised me by ingeniously creating a recipe for gluten-free pancakes, which are really quite delicious.  I cannot explain to you how delighted I was at how much they tasted like pancakes!  Thus my morning was completed.  I do not think it gets much better than eating scrumptious gluten-free pancakes with a cup of steaming coffee in front of a warm, crackling fire while just outside the window lies a blanket of snow sparkling as the sun's rays fall on it.  It was quite a lovely morning indeed.

Below is the recipe that helped make that snowy morning so wonderful for me.  Perhaps if you try it you will find that it can brighten up your morning as well.

Gluten-Free Oat Banana Pancakes
3 cups oat flour (we make our oat flour simply by blending oats in the blender)
6 eggs
3 bananas
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
3/4 c. almond milk

Mix together eggs, bananas, vanilla, and almond milk with an electric mixer or hand blender.  Add dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.  Drop batter onto greased frying pan on medium heat.  Flip when bubbles form in the batter.  Makes about 4 servings.

~Kiah

Promoting 180

After watching Living Waters' new documentary, 180, we wanted to do everything we could to get the word out about it.  So just before we moved, we bought a huge 180 decal and one hundred copies of the DVD to give away.  We've been giving away the videos anywhere we can-- at church, at the store, on the street, even in the dentist office.  We're trying to spread the message as far as we can! And I have to say, I think our 180 decal on our van looks pretty cool too!  Or at least it used to.  The below picture was taken before we moved, and now we live on a dirt road.  You can guess what that means... our poor decal is very, very dirty.  :)

If you haven't seen the new documentary go here to watch it for free.  It's only 33 minutes and is truly life-changing.  Please take the time to check this out, and when you have watched it pass it on!

In Christ,
~Kiah

Chickens!

To start off our mini farm we bought 50 chicks this week! We got three different breeds: Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, and Welsummers.  We had chickens many years ago, but it's been awhile and I am so excited to have chickens and fresh eggs again!

These little guys are just as cute now as they were when I was six years old.  I'm ten years older now and I should be more mature, but I still have so much fun playing with them and holding them.  That may sound silly of me, but I really can't help myself!  :)

Sleeping!  :)

Off the topic of chicks, this is a picture of Isaac reading his new favorite book. It's called The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals.  Mom and Dad bought it for him at the last homeschool convention. This book contains a wealth of information on all sorts of farm animals from chickens to goats to cows to bees to rabbits to pigs (and more). Isaac has really enjoyed reading it, and he's learned so much about raising farm animals. I like to call him our expert on all things farm.  :)

~Kiah

Yes, Again

I haven't posted much lately, and you may be wondering what has been keeping us so busy. (Believe me, we have been busy.) The answer is this: We've been moving. Yes, again.

Isaac has for some time been developing a serious interest in gardening and farming. This interest has only continued to grow in him, and he really desires to have a farm with a huge garden, chickens, milk goats, perhaps a milking cow, and bees. Mom and Dad really wanted to give him a chance to pursue his dream, so when God provided a house with eight acres for us to rent in a town just 20 miles north of our where we then lived, they jumped on the opportunity.


So we moved. And now we're living in a beautiful home on eight acres and we are preparing to make this place a farm. God has so richly blessed us. This house and property is so much more than we could have possible imagined! We are so thankful to Him.

Packing up the old house

The new house

The barn, chicken coop, and corral

The guys on the property

 

More posts and pictures to come.  And perhaps they will be a little more... farm-ish.  :)

~Kiah

180!

Today Living Waters released their new, moving documentary on abortion!  It is truly amazing and I cannot wait to see how God uses it to change lives and save souls.

I beg you to take just half an hour to watch 180 and see eight people go from being pro-choice to pro-life in seconds, all because they were asked a single question.

 

Please pass this on to as many people as you can.  This is such an important message and it needs to be shared with the world!

~Kiah

A Walk in the Woods

Photos courtesy of Kristen Bowers

Only two weeks left until Courageous!

Courageous, Sherwood Picture's newest movie is coming out in theaters in just two weeks, September 30!  Our whole family is waiting in impatient expectation!  We're going to go see it on opening weekend (to support them) and, if you can, I would encourage you to do the same!  To see what I've said before about Courageous and how long I've been waiting for this movie click here.  To see what the movie is all about and to watch the trailer go to www.courageousthemovie.com

~Kiah

The Hiding Place

Recently, I read for the first time The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom.  I cannot believe that it took me this long to read one of the best books ever.  The Hiding Place is definitely one of my all-time favorites now, and I'm so glad that we bought it for my school because now I can read it over and over again.

The true story is about the life of Corrie Ten Boom, an extraordinary woman of faith who lived during World War II.  Through the German occupation of Holland, through the hiding of Jews and daily danger of being discovered, through life in a concentration camp-- through it all the faith that Corrie and her family had in their Savior not only carried them through, but even gave them joy in the worst of situations.  The Hiding Place is an incredible story of God's faithfulness, forgiveness, and love.

I cannot say enough how much I enjoyed The Hiding Place.  It was so encouraging to read of Corrie Ten Boom's life, her faith, and the way God was faithful to her over and over again, even in unthinkable ways.  If you're dying for a good book to read (as I often am) go get The Hiding Place.  I know that it will be as encouraging and enjoyable to you as it was to me.

~Kiah

My Grandad, the Centenarian

Today is a day to celebrate.  Today is a day to celebrate because 100 years ago today my great-grandfather was born!  That's right, my grandad is now 100 years old.

 Grandad and his wife Martha in 1959

Grandad and me and Isaac in 2000

 

Grandad at 100 years old

Happy Birthday Grandad!  We love you!

~Kiah

Proverbs 9:10-11  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.  For by me your days will be multiplied and years will be added to your life.

180 Movie

Hello Friends,

I am so excited to announce that Living Waters has produced a new documentary, called 180, centered on abortion. The film is powerful and moving, and I believe (as many others do) that it has great potential to save lives and save souls. On September 26, Living Waters will make it available on the 180 website to view for free. They will also be selling the DVD for $1.00 each. Their goal is to get this movie into the hands of every household in America and beyond. To view the trailer and to see how you can help spread the news about this life-changing film go to www.180movie.com.


~Kiah