(Nastya and her younger sister Grace –
hiking during a recent vacation)
So apparently is actually not THAT hard to hike in skirts! 
And just to give you a peek of the view …
…. AND how far up they were ….
“Nothing is more amiable than true modesty, and nothing more contemptible than the false.” – Joseph Addison
FUN, FEMININE & FLEXIBLE!
WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T WEAR A SKIRT?!
Posted in SKIRT MYTH BUSTERS, THE KING'S DAUGHTER | Tagged dress, hiking, modesty, SKIRT MYTH BUSTERS, skirts | 2 Comments »
“BUT HE KNOWETH the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
- Job 23:10
Posted in SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK | Tagged God, gold, pathway, scripture, trials, weekly | Leave a Comment »
This recipe is adapted from Taste of Home. It is a favorite of my family’s. Makes a great party appetizer or an awesome snack. For those of you who may have grown jalapeno peppers in your garden this year, this is a great way to use up all the excessive amounts of harvested peppers (that’s what we did!). Hope you enjoy!
Combine cheeses, bacon and seasonings; mix well. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the mixture into each pepper half. Roll in bread crumbs. Place in greased 15″x10″x1″ baking pan. Bake uncovered at 300 degrees F – 20 minutes for spicy, 30 minutes for medium, 40 minutes for mild. Optional: serve with dip.
Posted in ARTS OF HOMEMAKING | Tagged recipe, jalapeno, pepper poppers, stuffed peppers, appetizer, snack | 1 Comment »
“YOU CAN WIN MORE FRIENDS with your ears than with your mouth.”
Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. – James 1:19b
Posted in RELATIONSHIPS, THE CONSECRATED LIFE | Tagged listening, quote, RELATIONSHIPS, scripture, winning friends | Leave a Comment »
“BUT SANCTIFY the LORD GOD in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” – I Peter 3:15
Posted in SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK | Tagged hope, reason, sanctify, scripture, weekly | Leave a Comment »
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4: 1
MANY TIMES, when you are young, and your whole life is yet before you, the “long view” is very difficult to keep focused. We all have a human tendency to feel like life is passing us by, or to want to attain certain things in this life, and feel as though they will never be accomplished.
WE ENTER INTO young adulthood with certain expectations and slowly but surely we find that those expectations are not all going to pan out the way we had imagined. Disappointment can set in.
AS A DAUGHTER of King Jesus we do our best to lay our life before him and let him know that we want our will and life completely submitted to him, all the while hoping He will see fit to grant us our own heart’s desires.
IT IS DURING this transitional period of life that it is so important that we keep the long view in mind and at heart. Our ULTIMATE goal is heaven, and in between that goal and where we are now, lies the path of life. Without looking out way ahead, we can set a course now that could potentially lead us into all kinds of untold heartache and frustration. We must prayerfully ask ourselves the question: “Where will this decision lead me down the road?
WE MAY GET our eyes on a boy and we just KNOW that he IS the one. But you need to consider that who you marry can make or break the rest of your life. It is so important that our decisions are submitted completely into the hands of God, who DOES see the long view and loves and cares about us. Not every “NO” that comes from God is a test. Many times it’s a loving Heavenly Father guarding us from danger ahead.
A HUSBAND IS not the only decision that is important. Whether or not to move away from home, where to work, if we should go to college, where we should go, what degree to pursue, making large purchases such as a car; What all will these decisions entail in the long view? The most important question they should answer is, “Could this decision lead me off the path of life that leads to heaven?” That is a risk none of us should take, for no matter how successful we are in this life, if we lose our home in heaven, we have lost everything of real value.
IT MAY BE difficult at times, but earnestly pray that God will help you, that you would be enabled to look at, not the things which you see and want, but the things which are eternal. Keep the long view always before you!
Posted in 107595, FROM A MOTHER'S PERSPECTIVE, THE CONSECRATED LIFE | Tagged decisions, goals, keep God first, transitional period, view | Leave a Comment »
Posted in SKIRT MYTH BUSTERS, THE KING'S DAUGHTER | Tagged feminine, flexible, fun, Joseph Addison, modesty, quote, SKIRT MYTH BUSTERS, virtue | 8 Comments »
“SO WHEN THIS CORRUPTIBLE shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
- I Corinthians 15:54-58
Posted in SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK | Tagged death, life, scripture, victory, weekly | Leave a Comment »
TODAY IS Alesya’s 19th birthday.
JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, we looked forward to this day, anticipating the celebrations and happiness that we would be enjoying. Instead, we look back on memories.
THE DAY WAS MONDAY, April 21st. The time was 10:30 PM. This past Wednesday marked the one-year-and-a-half anniversary of the day we lost Alesya. It also marked the two-year anniversary of her 17th birthday party – the last birthday party she every had.
IT’S SO STRANGE TO LOOK BACK. Exactly two years ago, we were all crowded around the table where a huge pink birthday cake sat in state. Everyone was laughing and singing as Alesya was helped to her feet by her faithful mother to let 17 pink and purple balloons go. We all watched them sail away into the wide blue sky. And we laughed again, and hoped.
TWO YEARS SINCE we were all crowded in the tiny living room, pressed flat against each other, Russian style, watching Alesya open her birthday gifts with that tired but ever-present smile on her face. And Felecia’s gift to her was a candle holder. On it was an oak leaf, symbolizing life.
LIFE! How could we all know that in exactly six months – literally to the minute – Alesya’s life would be ending? That at only 17, she would pass out of this life for another?
YES, IT WAS A TRAGEDY. And yes, I’ve cried today. I’ve cried many times. And I know I am not the only one. Everyone who knew her misses her, for her place is empty now and there is no one that can ever fill it again.
BUT I WOULD NOT CHANGE IT. For though it was sad, her death was one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed. There was pain, sorrow, grief, and struggles – plenty of them.
I FELT THAT PRESENCE as I sat by her side, running my fingers through her hair as she lay there sobbing as if her heart would break. I felt that presence when I would look into her white face, looking for frustration and pain, but instead seeing only peace and a strength that was definitely unearthly.And that presence was there when we walked into the darkened room for the last time and gazed at her transparent face as she lay in a coma.
GOD WAS THERE.
HE NEVER LEFT. He held her in His arms. I witnessed it. And it was beautiful.
YES, I CRIED TODAY. But today, I laughed also. And I smiled, too, as I remembered the birthday party, remembered the times we girls sat crowded around the bed looking at old photo albums and giggling over the ancient foreign photographs. The times when we sat busily exchanging girlish gossip, or when we sat around the table eating Zoya’s delicious chicken and borsch.
THEY WERE HAPPY TIMES. And today, I catch myself walking around the house singing snatches of “Danny Boy”, “Someday”, and “Send Me a Song” – some of Alesya’s favorites.
FELECIA CALLS ME.
“I’M ON MY WAY home from the grave. I stopped by there today. It’s so peaceful and quite – no one was there.”
“DID YOU get flowers?” I ask.
“YES - I got some white lillies and there are some magenta roses too! They are beautiful!”
“AND YOU took pictures?”
“YES, I GOT a couple with my phone…it it behaves, then I’ll show them to you! And are you working on that post about Alesya for Daughters of Light? You are supposed to do that today, you know.”
“YES, I KNOW. I’m working on it right now.”
I HANG UP. I write. And then I stop. I find the slideshow I made a year ago, in honor of her 18th birthday. I watch it, and I cry some more. And then I smile again.
BECAUSE EVEN if I could, I would not change anything.
BY MISS FELECIA V
Posted in ALESYA | Tagged birthday, cry, death, grief, life | 5 Comments »
This was adapted from a cook book my mom has called “The Pooh Cook Book” – for a very blusterous day outside! It’s super easy, takes about 15 minutes total to make (including prep) and makes about 3-4 servings. Very 
good and is fast becoming a favorite recipe of mine!
In a sauce pan, stir together and heat over medium heat first three ingredients until smooth. Slowly whisk in half & half (or milk) and then honey (add extra honey if desired to taste). Add vanilla. Stir and heat to desired warmth. DO NOT BOIL! Pour into mugs. Optional: sprinkle with a touch of cinnamon and/or nutmeg. Enjoy!
Posted in ARTS OF HOMEMAKING | Tagged honey, hot cocoa, recipe, seasonal, sugar substitute | Leave a Comment »
