Peaches and the Proverbs 31 Woman

I am a Domestic Diva...almost. 

I told you in my Proverbs 31 series that I wanted to be a better homemaker. That includes trying new things like canning my own preserves. Yes, I made these! Don't be so surprised! 

I actually wanted to cook something to "de-stress" a bit because things have been a little hairy around here lately. While I cooked these preserves I actually thought "this is the little stuff that makes serving my family fun, even when I am feeling a little stressed as a mom".  

I was canning fruit to serve my family but I was working through a heart issue with God as I did. I was hurt by something a child had done. Not any child, my child. My response was not as loving as it should have been. I was not walking in grace toward her as I should have been. 

My first mistake was thinking her mistake had something to do with me. Ego much? The second mistake was making her question in any way the love I have for her. I want to preserve my relationship with my children, especially when that relationship is under pressure, but the most important thing is for them to bare fruit, and to be sealed by God. 

See? God can even use peaches to teach me a valuable lesson as a mom. 

Okay, enough of the canning metaphors.  

I had to share these fun pictures of an easy do-it-yourself Peach Preserves. 


The ratio is 1 to 1 so adjust as you want if you decide to do these yourself and want more than I got here! This yields about 8 to 10 half pint jars of preserves. 

The Ingredients: 

5 cups Ripe Peaches
5 cups sugar 
1 box Ball(TM) Fruit Pectin 
water to cover (when blanching- you will discard)
2 cups water to cook peaches after de-skinning and de-pitting
1/2 cup Lemon Juice

The Recipe: 

1. Boil Peaches for one minute and then place in a water bath to shock them. (This helps keep that pretty peach color later)
2. Remove skin and pits from peach flesh. Cut peach flesh into small pieces. (If you want to blend them for a smoother consistency like a jelly go ahead. I did and I think it is worth it!)
3. Place the diced (or blended) peaches back in a pot, add sugar, fruit pectin , and lemon juice. Bring to a boil stirring constantly.
(The faster they are brought to a boil the more color you keep)
4. Once they have boiled for five minutes turn off flame and begin placing in washed and sterilized canning jars leaving 1/2 inch headroom needed for expansion.
5. Place lid and rings on.
6a. For water bath canning: place cans in large pot with three to five inches of hot water in the bottom. Place jars in the pot with something between the pot and the jars. I use extra rings spread around in the bottom. This keeps the jars off of the direct heat and will help prevent your jars from breaking. The water will rise over jars. (see picture below) 

Heat to boiling for 25 minutes. You should hear "pop" noises as the lids seal. (Test lids after they cool to make sure lids stayed sealed)
Once time is up, remove to cool. If lids have not sealed you can repeat this step.
6b. For pressure canners (ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR CANNER'S INSTRUCTIONS) place jars in canner. Cook for eight minutes using 6 lbs. of pressure. 

This whole process only took about an hour and 1/2. If you try this, won't you share your results with us? 


Has God ever used something common place, like canning, to teach you a lesson before? What was it?  




If you liked this post, you may like: Have it All?  and Waste Not Want Not: A Proverbs 31 Household Hint. 

Happy Mother's Day

If it weren't for you, who would we be? 

Happy Mother's Day to all of the woman who have raised us, nurtured us, and strengthened us just by being who God called you to be. 

Our lunches were always made, our clothes cleaned, our friends welcomed, and you did it so often without a thank you. So thanks. 

If you aren't a mom, honor one today. Give a widowed mom a hug, give a single mom a hand, and call your mom if you haven't already.

Proverbs 31:28-29

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises he 

“Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

If you grew up without a mother, God will and probably has brought a mother figure in your life. Call her and honor her today for all she has poured into you over the years. 

Be blessed, be a blessing, and remember that honor is a verb.  

Can you share one memory of your mom today? 

Have It All?

There are moments, when I am up at dawn, planning out my day, looking at the pile of work I have to do and feeling overwhelmed because my time management has not been up to par that I wonder “How am I going to do it all?”

Not exactly a Proverbs 31 woman kind of question. 

In my head a woman who is “the proverbs 31” woman is up at dawn with a project going, make-up on, no hair curlers left in her hair, praying over her house and children, making breakfast and kissing her husband as he heads off to work.

Instead I am up, haven’t showered yet, I have prepped the ribs I am going to barbecue later, helped my 16 year old put on her false eyelashes for a modeling gig, did a load of dishes, checked out Twitter and Facebook, and now am writing this.

Sans the hair and make-up I have not done too poorly. Then how come I feel so overwhelmed and dissatisfied?

I am doing more than I have ever done before. I am maintaining a household in a higher standard, though it is not up to the level I want it yet. I am praying and studying more than ever, and I still feel like I don’t study enough. I have small successes and even little Kisses from God, and I “feel” like it is not enough.

So what is the problem? I am.

The word says to be content in whatever circumstances I am in because God’s grace is sufficient. I also know that there is a difference between conviction, God’s spirit prompting me to repent and change, and condemnation, feeling bad for no reason other than to feel bad.

I need to let go of the pressure I put on myself to get it all done right now! I need to relax and enjoy the moments I have, and when I get more done than I planned, THEN I can be impressed rather than depressed.

So my hair isn’t perfectly blown out and styled. So what I have a day that is packed with “to do’s” and not enough time “to do”. My world will not come to a screeching halt because something fell through the cracks this once.

I need to stop living by my feelings and begin living by God’s word. I know He says I am his child, joint heirs with His son Jesus, and I have a purpose. I will keep plugging away at that: sowing – sowing - sowing into what He has told me to do, and let Him bring the increase.

I am not meant to do it all, I am meant to have God as my All in All.

Question: Have you felt pressure to get it “all” done before? How do you handle that?

Whiners are not Winners! Why I want to be a Proverbs 31 Woman.

Some of you may have seen the post Waste Not Want Not, A Proverbs 31 Household Hint and thought you had stumbled onto the wrong blog. I don’t blame you. It is not my usual post. But I have to say that since I started this with the intent to always be honest, let me explain why it is here.



I want to be THAT woman: The Proverbs 31 Woman. The problem is that I am nowhere near where I want to be. Let’s look at what Proverbs 31:10- 31 says (The Message)

A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She's quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
"Many women have done wonderful things,
but you've outclassed them all!"
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!



Wow, if only I were this woman! My husband and children, even my mother-in-law (who lives with us) -ESPECIALLY my mother-in-law- would sing my praises around the county.



The truth is that the other day a friend wanted to come over and hang out for some coffee, and I told her no because the cat box had not been cleaned, dishes were in the sink and I had not swept the house in three days. I told her why, and she was very kind to me, but it bothered me a lot.



Since then, I have intended to begin a new regimen to serve my family. And make no mistake: cooking for them and cleaning the house is a service and a ministry to my family and friends, and I have not been attentive to this part of my life at all. Now my house is no sty. Though in the past, I cannot say that.



When my father-in-law died a few years ago, my house looked like a scene from A&E’s Hoarders. If a friend had not come over and frantically shoveled dirty clothes into bags so my husband could run to the laundry mat, while I cleaned dishes and made the kids push a vacuum, then there would have been no place to hold the reception of friends and family after all the services were done. How shameful is that! I have gotten MUCH better, and the only thing that really piles up around here anymore is dust, cat poo, and a load of clothes (or two) waiting to be folded. This is usually as bad as it gets.



But I want better! I want my home to be hospitable and open and not to feel like I have to turn away friends when they need a place to relax and get away for a few hours. So I am going to begin a Proverbs 31 Household Hints post that will include updates, struggles and hints on things that I find as I endeavor to get better disciplined in my domestic ministry. That is why there is such an odd post below this one. It is the first of many, I am sure.



Now, please hold me accountable and also pray for me to learn the discipline I need to succeed. I know that I have to tackle this part of my life. Not so I can impress people with a “Martha Stewart” like home, but because I need to develop discipline NOW so I can live my dream later! (Thanks Jon Acuff and his book Quitter)



If I cannot take care of the small things, how will God trust me with the big stuff? So I am going to take 15 minutes out of every hour today and try to do something around the house that I have been putting off. I am going to tell myself when that lazy voice starts whining that “Whiners are not winners” and to “get off my rear and get in gear”!




Be blessed and be a blessing and remember that change is hard and it is also a VERB!