We have many things which we are contemplating these days and if you’ve been around for the past two to three months, you’ve probably noticed it’s been a bit quiet at SG. We are waiting on the Lord about several directions to go with products and services, so as we’ve said before, check back in when you have time to see what, if anything, is new.

Hope you and your family are being richly blessed these days. Another thing we are waiting on is a third little daughter/granddaughter who is expected to arrive in September.

For His Glory,
Maxine (Nanna)

My Little Chef

Rolling the crust

Our finished product

For His Glory,
Beverly

“Apples big, apples small, guess what? I like them all!”

I do love apples. I love them in all flavors and in all manner of tasty desserts. When I was pregnant, I was never without my jar of applesauce. I love the fragrance that comes from my apple candle melting on my stove. And fall is almost here! Time to break out all the baking stuff. Woot!

Because I’m teaching Selena about apples this month, we’ve been reading about about apple picking, types of apples, and baking with apples.

Tomorrow, Lord willing, we’ll be going apple picking, and Lena will get to experience all these things firsthand. And next week, I plan to make apple pie with her. Here’s the recipe:

“Sliced apples, raisins and walnuts are sugared, dusted with cinnamon and nutmeg, and piled into a pastry shell. A sweet crumbly topping is sprinkled over the top. The whole pie is then loosely covered with aluminum foil, and baked until golden and brown.”

Ingredients:
1 (9 inch) pie shell
6 cups thinly sliced apples
1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
3/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Place sliced apples in a large bowl. Sprinkle with lemon juice if desired. In a small bowl, mix together white sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sprinkle mixture over apples. Toss until apples are evenly coated. Stir in raisins and walnuts if desired. Spoon mixture into pastry shell.
3. In a small bowl mix together 1/2 cup flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter or margarine until mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle mixture over apple filling. Cover top loosely with aluminum foil.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 25 to 30 minutes, until top is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

This recipe was submitted by Jackie Smith to Allrecipes.com

In Him,
Beverly

Speaking of tasty food, here is a great resource for children’s recipes. I was excited to see that there are even recipes that preschoolers can participate in! The Happy Face Sandwich is something we might try soon. If your child enjoys pizza, the Breakfast Pizza will tickle their fancy!

What fun things have you eaten lately?

In Him,
Beverly

Happy to see September again? I am. I’ve always loved this month. We’re back to school in our house and we’re back to many other things at Speakable Gifts. While we start the Junior year of high school here and preschool at Bev’s house, we’ve also just published another edition of the newsletter. Somehow, we’re wading through the technical issues, partly due to the fact that Bev has agreed to do the bulk of the work. We’ve spent a lot of phone time trying to resolve our computer woes, but we’ve managed to persevere! You would not believe what yesterday was like, but we got it done and sent. If you haven’t subscribed yet, what are you waiting for? It’s as easy as one, two, three, so hop over and sign up! If so, you’ll get the current edition right away.

We’re also back with another writing contest for your children. As usual, we have the two categories utilizing two of our Speakables: Second to fourth graders on the Aesop fable and fifth to sixth graders on a very popular saying (proverb). Want more details? You can find them here.

And new products are about to emerge. We’re excited about them and are in the process of finding the best way to have them published here at Speakable Press. We’re hopeful (and prayerful) that God will see us through and we can offer them to you very soon. Of course, we’ll let it be known as soon as these publications are available.

God’s blessings to you and your household. Have a wonderful, wonderful fall of the year. Whatever your schooling situation, hope you get off to a good start.

For His glory,

Maxine

In the meantime, we’ll be travelling with the kids, and husbands and my other daughter on a trip to take in some historical sites.

God bless you and yours. Perhaps you will have a chance to do some travelling with your children too. If so, hope this article helps a little.

Blessings,

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

Thank God for Little Children

Thank God for little children,
Bright flowers by earth’s wayside,
The dancing, joyous lifeboats
Upon life’s stormy tide.

Thank God for little children;
When our skies are cold and gray,
They come as sunshine to our hearts,
And charm our cares away.

I almost think the angels,
Who tend life’s garden fair,
Drop down the sweet wild blossoms
That bloom around us here.

It seems a breath of heaven
Round many a cradle lies,
And every little baby
Brings a message from the skies.

Dear mothers, guard these jewels.
As sacred offerings meet,
A wealth of household treasures
To lay at Jesus’ feet.

~ Frances E. W. Harper

Remember to guard these jewels, mothers; they are precious. They are our “household treasures.” My prayer for all mothers who read this is that you will indeed lay them at the feet of Jesus.

The above photo is of the two newest treasures in our family, my two grandchildren. Need I say what my prayer is for them?

Have a blessed and Christ-honoring Mother’s Day, whether you are a mother or have one. If neither applies, may the Lord Jesus draw near to you and be your all in all. After all, that should be the case no matter what the circumstances.

For His Glory,

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

I really do like the Cedarmont Kids, and thought I’d treat you to them once again. They sound a wee bit like the kids singing this song on our children’s cassette. (It’s on sale!) My two year old granddaughter loves it and I think your kids or grandkids would too. In the cassette, my younger daughter was just five years old when she had the part which said “Oh be careful little tongue what you say.” Now she’s sixteen, so that will tell you how long that cassette has been around and how long many young children have enjoyed it. So, enjoy these children who you can hear AND see:

For His Glory,

Maxine, a/k/a Nanna

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

Isn’t that ever an important truth to teach our children? So many things in life, when taken alone, will never give us real insight into what God’s big plan is for us. His ways are right and good, though oftentimes we are unable to see that rightness and goodness at a particular time. Some of those “things” are difficult and painful. Some bring joy and gladness. But if we are to trust this beloved passage of Scripture and embrace it, we have to believe it in the dark times as well as when the sun is shining.

Sometimes children go through darkness; life isn’t always bright and carefree for youngsters. There are times when sickness comes, either in their own bodies, or in that of someone dear to them. I know some young children for whom the latter applies at this very time. Actually, there are often valleys which children have to go through, more than we may think, if it hasn’t touched our own kids’ lives yet.

I have a suggestion: use jigsaw puzzles as a means to teach this truth. How about finding one where the completed picture is one which will be pleasing to them, a picture of something they enjoy or like. Work on the puzzle together, pointing out that some of the pieces have colors which are not very attractive when taken alone. But then you can tell them how those particularly “unattractive” or darkly colored pieces are each a necessary part of the total. In fact, the finished work would be lacking without them.

My oldest granddaughter, who is two, is beginning to love doing jigsaw puzzles and I LOVE doing them with her. She even (with just a little help) did one of the United States, and was she excited about it! I was too, let me tell you. I sure do hope she continues to enjoy doing these puzzles and that her parents will take every opportunity to help this activity teach her Romans 8:28. Hopefully, I can have some input too. Perhaps this will be an incentive for you to make use of this important tool for teaching many spiritual truths.