Dedication....

 

Sunday was a special Day.  Mary Toodles was dedicated to the Lord.  It was such a nice gathering of our  family.  Everyone was there, even the great grandparents.  And can you believe I brought my camera, threw it in my purse just before we left home, and didn't take a single picture?  

The pastor said such good things.  About how Jesus is Mary's shepherd and that he would lead her to still waters and guide her in and out of green pastures and carry her in His arms.  What a word picture that is to a family of sheep herders.

We all stood up front and said that we promised we would do our best to teach her the Things of the Lord and to share the love of Jesus with her.  We all confessed, "We will."  We not only dedicated Mary to the Lord, but we dedicated ourselves to Mary, to love her and train her up in The Way.  

As I stood there in church with my husband and our five children, one of whom was dedicating his life to his own daughter, I thought about that word "dedication."  There are a lot of years and hard work, trials and tears, joys and small triumphs that go into dedicating your children to the Lord.  Your entire life becomes a life of dedication, whether you feel like it or not.  It's humbling.  And rewarding. If you still have kids at home, keep up the good work and don't grow weary of doing good.  It will all come back to you one day.  I promise!

 I dedicated my day to several people today.  I took HP with me to feed the cows and sheep.  Did you ever think of feeding cows and sheep as dedicated work?  After we were done, I asked HP's mommy if she could stay for the day.  "Yes," she said.  And so she did.  We had fun playing in the mud puddles that were snow and ice just a day ago.  I bought HP a new pair of Boggs boots to muck around in.  We all wear these boots here on the ranch and really, there is just nothing better for warmth and for mucking around in water and mud. They're cute too.

 Hazel was dedicated to swirling the muddy water around and getting herself all wet and muddy today.  Sunny days have been so few and far between, that I let her go ahead and enjoy this day to its full measure.  The clothes would be washed while she napped.  (Gram fell asleep too. What a pleasure!)

The chickens had their day in the sunshine as well.  They are such dedicated old hens.  They faithfully provide us with delicious, fresh eggs every single day.  Oh, some days they don't lay as many as others, but they've been very productive lately since the days have warmed up and the sun is shining a bit more.

One more bit of dedication came in the way of a special Valentine's Day supper for my men.  I made them barbecued country ribs, garlic mashed potatoes and peas, and for dessert, this Lemon Cloud Pie.  It is a recipe that my friend shared with me.  Her 89 year old mother is the true author of the pie and let me tell you, there's a lot of dedication behind this time-tested recipe!  It's scrumptious!


Lemon Cloud Pie

1 cup sugar

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

1 cup water

1/3+ cup lemon juice

2 egg yolks

Combine above ingredients in saucepan; bring to boil and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.

Add ~ 4 oz. softened cream cheese

           2 tsp. grated lemon peel

Cool mixture to room temperature.

Fold in 1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped.

Spread into 9" baked and cooled pie shell.  Chill at least 3 hours or overnight.  Top with sweetened whipped cream, if desired, before serving.

* Even better the next day; keeps well, refrigerated, for 2 or even 3 days.

**  I have made this with limes. 

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, 
do all to the glory of God.
~I Corinthians 10:31