Easy Homemade Applesauce!

One of the things I love about fall is that apples are in season! Growing up my Nana always made applesauce for us. It was so yummy! Last year, I decided to try to make some for myself. And was surprised that it was so easy to make! And as an added bonus, the house smells amazing! :)

Here's how:

1.Peel, core, and dice apples. You can use any variety. I use Mutsu. Add to pot with a little water. (I used about 1/2 c. You just want enough to cover the bottom of the pot so the apples don't burn.)

 2.Add cinnamon and sugar if desired. (I don't add any sugar so the recipe is clean. But if you want to use about 1/2 per 10 apples)

3.Cook on Medium heat until soft, stirring occasionally.

As the apples cook down they produce a lot of liquid and smaller pieces will start breaking down. 

They're almost ready now!

 4.Smash apples! I use a pastry blender, but you could use a potato masher or even just smash between spoon and edge of pot. I like to leave some chunks in mine! 

5.Enjoy! Keep in refrigerator or can.

Do you make applesauce? What are your favorite seasonal dishes?

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Recovery Break

If you haven't seen my Facebook update, I'm in the hospital. I slipped in the mud and dislocated my ankle and broke my tibia and fibula in 3 places. I had surgery yesterday to insert plates and screws. Thankfully that went well. But I am still in a lot of pain. I am glad I have some pain because that means that I didn't damage my nerves. I just hope and pray it lessens soon.
I will be taking at least this week(through 2/17) off to focus on recovery and physical therapy.I may need longer than a week; I'll just have to wait and see how I feel.  No other posts-including the link up-will be made during this time. I have extended the dates available on Homemaking Link Up #28. So feel free to add more posts to last Friday's. I will choose one entry to feature whenever I get to feeling better 
I will be on bed rest for 3 weeks! I will have plenty of time to blog and fold laundry since that's the only "chore" I'll be able to do. I hate that I won't be able to get up and wash dishes, sweep, and scrub my counters. I enjoy taking care of my house. Thankfully my wonderful mother-in-law is flying out today to help us out during my recovery!  Thank you to everyone who prayed for me! I would appreciate prayers for a quick, full recovery without too much pain.  Thank you so much for stopping by! 

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Fear the Lord

Just joining in our Proverbs 31 study? Click here to read more!

(Pro 31:30-31)Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

These verses explain what makes the virtuous woman so valuable!

Favour(good deeds, kindness) can be deceitful. Anyone can do good deeds towards others, it doesn't mean they have the right motives. And outward beauty doesn't hold any real value! But what makes her worth more than rubies is her fear of the Lord!

As it is used here, fear means to give honor and reverence to God. Her fear was the reason that she helped those in need, took care of her household and respected her husband. Every action that she took was weighed against God's word.

To be the virtuous woman we must examine ourselves daily to make sure that we have a pure heart and are following all of God's commands! We must strive to please God not man(Acts 5:29). This attitude will make us more valuable than rubies!

Serve Christ

 Just joining in our Proverbs 31 study? Click here to read more!

Via

(Pro 31:29)Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

The virtuous woman excelled. That is, after all, what she strived for. But what made her surpass others? Her attitude! She had the heart of a servant. In all that she did her main goal and desire was to please God!

As a Christian we must become servants of Christ!

(John 12:27)If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

How do we serve Him? By following Him, obeying his commands.

(John 14:15)If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

Obey just the commandments that are convenient to us? Or just the ones that we think are a good idea? No, we must obey all His commands!

It's so sad to see those who think that because they keep a few of God's commands that they won't go to hell. I don't understand where they get this logic. If you tell your child to pick up their toys and they only pick up 2 is that good enough? Or are you going to explain that you want them to pick them all up?

Partial obedience is disobedience. We can't just pick and choose what we obey!

Think back on the Israelites moving the ark in 2 Samuel. God had given clear instructions regarding moving the ark when He gave them the instructions to build it. It was to be moved by members of the Levi tribe, carried by poles inserted through rings on the ark. They were not to touch anything other than the poles.(Exodus 25, Numbers 3)

But instead of doing this, they place the ark on a new cart. It was new, so it was probably pretty nice. They must have thought that God would like this new cart. But they hit a bump and the oxen pulling the cart caused it to shake. Uzzah(who was close by) reached out his hand to steady it. Surely his intentions were pure. He was just trying to keep the ark from being damaged. But he disobeyed God. And was killed for violating this command.

We must obey all his commandments! And in order to do this we must be like those Christians in Berea.

(Acts 17:11)These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

They were ready to receive the word-their hearts were open to learning the truth! But they didn't just believe what Paul told them. They searched the scriptures to make sure that what he said was the truth!

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

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Linking up with these blogs: Raising Arrows, The Better Mom, The Modest Mom, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Heavenly Homemakers, Time-Warp Wife, Deep Roots at Home, Our Simple Farm, Raising Homemakers, A Mama's Story, Women Living Well, The Alabaster Jar, Thankful Homemaker, These Five of Mine Plus Two, Changed by the Maker, Working Kansas Homemaker, Our Simple Country Life, Homemaker By Choice

Can't I Just Get A Thank You?

 Just joining in our Proverbs 31 study? Click here to read more!

(Pro 31:28)Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

The virtuous woman has worked hard. She has put so much time and energy into raising her children in "the way they should go" and all that is finally paying off for her. Her children call her blessed, they respect her. But not just her children, her husband praises her too!

Don't you have those days(or weeks, months) where you feel like no one's noticed any work you've done around the house? When, just for a moment, you feel like you're doing all that work for nothing? I do. I think that we all have days like that. Days when we forget that the reason we're doing the work isn't for praise from our children or husbands, and it isn't for an earthly reward. We are doing it because God has commanded us to be keepers of our home(Titus 2:5).

It is so easy to forget this though. We crave a "thank you" from our family, some kind of recognition for our work. Is it wrong to want this? Absolutely not! But if the only reason we're doing the work is for praise, that's an issue. We must work heartily for the Lord, remember that we are serving God by serving our family. He is the one who will reward us. 

(Colossians 3:25) "Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ"

And remember all the things God has done for us and blessed us with. Have you thanked Him?

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

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Linking up with these blogs: A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Women Living Well, Raising Homemakers, Deep Roots at Home, Raising Mighty Arrows, A Mama's Story

Time Management

Via

 Just joining in our Proverbs 31 study? Click here to read more!

(Pro 31:27)She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

The virtuous woman watches her household to make sure they are doing as God would have them to do! She encourages them! She wants to get to heaven and will do everything in her power to make sure she takes her husband and children with her!

We know, both from this verse and those preceding, that she has a lot to do. It could be overwhelming for her!

But notice this verse says she eats not the bread of idleness. She doesn't just sit around when there's work to be done. She manages her time well and we must do the same! How can we do this? Here are a few tips:

• Make a list of what needs to be done each day. It may help to have a cleaning schedule for each week.
• Put a * by the most important items, the one that must be done no matter what. These may include quite time/prayer, time with family, meals, ect.
• Check with your husband to see what he considers to be important, or if there's anything that he needs done. I know my husband would much rather have a hot home cooked meal than a spotless house!
• Make a schedule of your day, setting aside time for each item that needs to be done(start with the important ones!)
• Be flexible! Don't stress out if its 9am and you were supossed to be cleaning the bathroom by 8am! It's okay if you don't follow your schedule exactly! It's okay if you don't get everything done-those dishes can wait til tomorrow!
• Set time limits for things like email, Facebook, blogging. I don't want to count the number of time I sat down to get online for just 10 minutes and ended up spending much longer! We can completely loose track of time!
• Make time for yourself! This is one of those important things! We must take time to recharge(both mentally and physically)! So take a few minutes each day, grab a cup of sweet tea, and relax! 

What do you do to help manage your time? Share below! :)

Thank you so much for stopping by! 

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Linking up with these blogs:Women Living Well, Deep Roots at Home, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home,  Raising Homemakers