Johnny Appleseed

So Friday's I work in both the kids classrooms and this past Friday in Kindergarten we celebrated Johnny Appleseed's birthday with caramel apples. Jeffrey wasn't so keen on his as it was a bit to warm and he didn't want to be sticky..dirt..mud..those are okay! But, not sticky!

Another great story from Proverbs 31..love that site!

Fall is a great time to read the story of Johnny Appleseed to your children and try some new apple recipes!
John Chapman, a small man with amazing endurance, is known as "Johnny Appleseed." He was really an American pioneer, a kind and gentle hero, and a uniquely American legend.

Johnny Appleseed carried a bag of apple seeds, a spade, his cooking pot on his head, a coffee sack for a coat and a Bible as he traveled barefoot westward, planting apple seeds as he went on his sacred quest.

Folks still remember little Johnny and sing his song: "The Lord is good to me...And so I thank the Lord...For giving me the things I need...The sun and rain and the appleseed...The Lord is good to me."

God was good to him. He met many pioneers, read Bible stories to children and adults and gave apple seeds to the settlers. He showed people how to make apples into juice, pies, sauce, butter and Brown Betty. Johnny spread the Word of God as well as apples. He believed that God wanted him to go around and read his Bible to people and plant apple trees for them.

Johnny Appleseed's gentleness and courage were legendary even in his own time. He was a peaceful man who walked alone in the wilderness, without gun, knife or any weapons. He chopped down no trees and killed no animals. Watching apples grow inspired Johnny to love nature and all the animals in it. Folks say he could talk to the animals.

He was friends with the Indians too and traveled with a wolf companion. He slept outdoors, walked barefoot, ate berries and such, and made drinking water in winter by melting snow with his feet. The Indians found him nearly dead in the snow one time and nursed him back to health.

Johnny Appleseed left home and headed west to the Allegheny Mountains and cleared land to plant apple orchards. Johnny kept moving westward. In each community he planted apple orchards. In his travels, Johnny would stop at a farm and work for only his meals and a place to sleep, and he always left some apple seeds for the farmer to plant.

Then one day while he was resting under an apple tree, he heard a voice, "You have one long last trip to take." Johnny protested that he couldn't go, he had crops to harvest, seeds to sow but the voice continued, " Your work here on earth is done; but, Johnny, up in heaven we need you. You may think we have all we please -- but we don't, we're kinda short on apple trees, we need you here."

Fun Ways to Eat Apples

Recipes from virginiaapples.org.

Applesauce Cake in a Cone - A Magical Microwave Creation
Prepare a one or two layer spice cake mix according to package directions, except substitute applesauce for the water. Pour batter into flat-bottomed ice cream cones, no more than half full. Arrange 6 cones in a circle in microwave and cook on full power 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 minutes. Continue baking 6 cones at a time until all batter is used. When ready to serve, top each cupcake with a big scoop of ice cream.


Quick Apple Crisp
6-8 apples, peeled and sliced
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 ( 5 oz.) stick pastry mix
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. brown sugar
Place apples in greased, 8 inch square or round pan. Combine pastry mix (dry) with sugar and spices. Sprinkle over apples. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Serve with ice cream or whipped topping.

Or try these ideas for a change of pace…

Substitute apple slices for jelly on peanut butter sandwiches.

Freeze applesauce, then whip it in a blender for an apple "slushie".

My favorite time of the year...Autumn

"The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze."
- John Updike, September

Mt. Shasta

Lil' David

David is eight weeks today! I feel so blessed having Cassie and this lil' guy with us. Here he is all dolled up..he and Mommy have a lunch date with a friend today.

Psalm 127:3-5a
Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.

Friendship

Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend's counsel that comes from the heart. Proverbs 27: 9

Montague Balloon Fair

This past weekend our little town was home to the annual Montague Balloon Fair. It is a big deal in this house and my kids live for rising early and seeing the balloons take flight.

This year we decided it would be fun to ask some dear friends over to enjoy the balloons with us and have breakfast. We had such a good time! I love having family and friends over and having a bunch of kiddos run around....truly blesses me.

So..the big deal this year was the kids were able to get a tethered ride in a balloon! This was huge to my kids..they keep saying they want to go up higher on a real ride next year! We shall see about that..

How often do we wear our feelings on our shirt sleeve?

Have you ever had your feelings hurt? By a family member, friend or a stranger? I know I have. I came across this devotion and thought it was so worth sharing. I hope it blesses you as it did me.

I Choose NOT to be Offended
Wendy Blight

"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)

What did she mean by that?

Why does she always hurt my feelings?

Why does she treat me that way?

Do any of these phrases sound familiar to you? It took my 15-year old daughter to show me that these words played through my head on a continual basis. She ended many of our conversations over the last few years with, "Why do you get your feelings hurt so easily?" or "Gosh, Mom, we are always hurting your feelings." Or, "Mom, you're so sensitive." At first, her words angered me.

Over time, I finally began to hear what she was saying. God used my daughter to teach a powerful truth to me. For years, I allowed people's words to hurt my feelings. In turn, I harbored anger for those words. The anger took root. Satan fed the words to me over and over again. I replayed them in my mind. Each time I replayed them, the anger grew deeper roots.

I would find myself sitting in church listening to a sermon and saying, "I wish ______ was here. They really need to hear this sermon." I never heard the sermons for myself because the words of others consumed by thoughts and stole my time.

About this time, God called me to teach a Bible study on the book of Proverbs. I spent days and weeks absorbed in this amazing book of Wisdom. One afternoon, God brought this verse across my path, "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense" (Proverbs 18:11). Wow! It leapt off the page and into my heart.

I had a choice here. Up until now, I received people's words, jumped to a conclusion, and chose to be offended. God's Word spoke and said, "Wendy, you have another choice...choose to look past their words and not receive them with an offended heart." I discovered that I needed to LISTEN objectively and ask: What is driving their words? Do they have a valid point? Do they have a deep hurt? Do they need something I am not giving? Are they someone who is just plain mean and negative?

The responsibility was on me to stop the words from entering my heart and taking root. I discovered in this process that I NEEDED the approval of others. Yet, God's Word clearly says that He is the only One whose approval I need. When I accepted this, my heart changed.

Yes, it took time, and I am a work in progress. But, now when someone speaks a hurtful word, I check it at the door of my heart. I hear the words, I recognize my issue, and I speak Truth over my heart. I literally say, "It is to my glory to not receive this as an offense." God is pleased because I honor Him with this choice. It is a win-win for everyone because I do not ruin the rest of the day by pouting and making it all about me. I do not soak in self-pity. I let the words go.

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am created in Your image. Thank You that in You I find my identity. Thank You that it is only Your Words and Your opinion that matters. Lord, give me Your ears to hear. Help me not to be easily offended and easily angered. Help me lay down any offenses to which I am currently holding. Let me live in the freedom of Your love and forgiveness. Help me live not in my flesh, but supernaturally in the fullness and freshness of Your Spirit. I ask this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, My Lord, Amen.

First Day of School

School started for those of us here mid August. Crazy to think all my kids are in school now..Jeffrey started Kindergarten and loves every minute of it. Grace is in fifth grade now and still loves school. I feel very blessed to have children that love to go to school and come in the door eager to get their homework done.

Where has the time gone?

I seriously can't believe it's been a month since I have blogged! I can honestly say that with David's arrival and school starting amongst other things we have going on..it has been a busy month. I am promising myself to sit down and catch everyone up on life here at the Chrisman house.