Ok..It's CHRISTmas...not GIFTmas...This time of year so often gets skewed from being about the birth of Jesus into being about getting the best deal at a sale at 3am for a gift for someone you don't really like, but feel compelled to buy a present for anyway. I hope that anyone reading this knows and has received the greatest gift intended for each and everyone of us..salvation given to us by God through the birth and death of his only son, Jesus. If I never received another gift in this life other than the gift of salvation, I would be content and more than sustained.
That said...I wanted to share some of the earthly gifts I recieved this year for Christmas..
1) my sweet best friend Briana gave me a beautiful silver chain necklace from James Avery with a script letter "M" charm...love it!
2) my handsome husband gave me a Dooney and Bourke ostrich purse (that my wonderful friend Janice sought out for us, and also purchased the matching card holder and coin purse for my birthday present!)
3) that same husband got me the snake boots from Bass Pro that I've been eyeing for quite a while...perfect for the terrain that we have at our hunting lease here in Alabama.
4) again, that husband got me a 14qt Magnalite stockpot that I can't wait to whip up some gumbo in!
5) My wonderful parents gave us an awesome All-Clad slow cooker with the cast iron insert that can go on the stove or oven, and it has the timer setting on it...Oh yeah...
6) My friend Stephanie gave me this beautiful scarf that is like a bunch of strings knotted together, it is so different and pretty, I can't wait to wear it!
7) My inlaws gave me a number of gifts, but one of my favorites is this carved-looking cross that has the story of Jesus from birth to crucifixion..it's really beautiful and I will have to find a special place for it in our home.
8) My aunt and uncle gave me a beautiful watch and matching bracelet, perfect for special nights out.
I also got to spend priceless time with my parents and sisters and their families, and my husband and children were able to go see his parents for a few days. My aunt came through a serious surgery awesomely and is beating cancer. My family has so many blessings that God has given us over the last few months, we are incredibly grateful. I hope that each of you has had a blessed holiday season and are ready to greet a New Year with a positive outlook on what God has to bring you in 2012.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
cravings...
Since I went on my shopping hiatus in October, the only items of clothing I have purchased for myself are 1) a cocktail dress for the husband's work Christmas party, 2) shoes and tights to go with said dress, and 3) some matching Christmas pj's for myself and my mom. Can I just say..that is a HUGE accomplishment for me.
That said...I'm having a terrible hankering for some retail therapy and need prayers to get through it. Amen.
That said...I'm having a terrible hankering for some retail therapy and need prayers to get through it. Amen.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Merry Christmas!!
Ok, I'm admitting it..I have no intentions of mailing out Christmas cards this year.
No, I'm not a Scrooge, I'm just lazy. I haven't been able to find our address book since we moved this summer, and I haven't made the effort to obtain a new one and request addresses from everyone. I know, it's terrible. I also haven't made the cute picture Christmas cards that I normally do each year, because, deep down inside, I knew I wasn't going to have the addresses I needed.
So, it's nothing personal against anyone, I just haven't made it a priority. We still love everyone and wish them all a Merry Christmas, I'm just not sending you any joy through the mail. If it helps, the picture at the top of my blog is the same one I would have used for our cards.
Merry Christmas!! Peace on Earth!! Good Will to Men!! (look at the picture above as you read those last 3 statements....there, just as good as a card, right?)
No, I'm not a Scrooge, I'm just lazy. I haven't been able to find our address book since we moved this summer, and I haven't made the effort to obtain a new one and request addresses from everyone. I know, it's terrible. I also haven't made the cute picture Christmas cards that I normally do each year, because, deep down inside, I knew I wasn't going to have the addresses I needed.
So, it's nothing personal against anyone, I just haven't made it a priority. We still love everyone and wish them all a Merry Christmas, I'm just not sending you any joy through the mail. If it helps, the picture at the top of my blog is the same one I would have used for our cards.
Merry Christmas!! Peace on Earth!! Good Will to Men!! (look at the picture above as you read those last 3 statements....there, just as good as a card, right?)
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
On the road for the holidays....
Recent conversations with other military friends prompted this post. It's intended to provide insight on a travelling family during the holidays...tt's also going to be my checklist for travelling this year...
Do you travel for the holidays? Or maybe you have the home that is always the place everyone else comes to be with each other for the holidays. Either way, you probably know someone that is generally on the road for the holidays. We are a military family, and had the luxury at our last assignment to be at "home" in Louisiana and close to the rest of our family for three years of holidays. We were able to do Christmas Eve at my parent's house, as we traditionally do. It's the one for sure time of the year that my sisters and I, our spouses (unless there is a deployment) and all of our children are at my Mama and Daddy's. We have shrimp stew every year, a tradition that started before I can remember with my Daddy's mama (Grammy) cooking for us each year. Then, my mother took over, and the last couple of years I've taken that task (although I still don't like mine as much as Grammy's or my Mama's. I'll try to remember to blog about the task this year, with pictures.) We open presents, and laugh, and make new memories each year. Those three years we were in Louisiana (and the three we were there for our first assignment) were great. We've also lived in England, Virginia, and now Alabama. We've spent those holidays away from any family, spent them with our military families, and made other memories. This year, being in Alabama, we are close enough to travel home fairly often and see our families. My husband and our kids will be able to spend time with my in-laws, and we'll be able to be with my family this year for Christmas Eve and my parents for Christmas morning. I'm not sure where next year will take us, so we will wait to see what that plan is.
So...getting to the point...I love being at my Mama and Daddy's anytime, but especially for Christmas. No bones about it. But sometimes, I really dread the packing and travelling part. Especially for Christmas. If you have never travelled for the holidays, and never travelled with children for the holidays, you may not understand or appreciate what it takes for a family of four (just using that number because that's what we are) and a dog to get ready to go on the road for Christmas, and to prepare to spend it at multiple homes.
First off, we have to prepare to pack. Now, for us, we may take more than normal, because when we go to Louisiana for the holidays, it is also hunting season. So, because of that, we are taking our guns or my bow and any other hunting paraphenalia, in addition to the other luggage. We may have to take 2 vehicles this year. We have to plan accordingly for packing the gifts, and arrange for Santa to deliver our children's gifts to the appropriate Christmas morning location. This year, we've also made arrangements for our dog, Buster, to stay at the vet instead of taking him with us.
We have to contact the local authorities to do a daily drive by of the house, as well as work out with our neighbors to just keep an eye on the house. I have to make arrangements for our mail to be put on hold, and make sure any packages that may have been sent to us by UPS or FedEx get picked up off our porch.
The day of travel, we get all loaded up and set out on the trip (this year a meager 7 hour drive), and without fail, get a few miles down the road and realize something was left on, the alarm didn't get set, or someone forgot their phone charger (normally me) and have to turn around to resolve the issue.
We plan our time there beforehand, planning whe we will be able to spend time with and on what days, making sure that we try to see everyone, and apologizing to those that the time just isn't going to allow. I may not have mentioned this before, but I work from home for my mother's business, so while we are there, I will also be working for the days that our office is open. I am so blessed that I can travel and still work.
Ultimately, we arrive at the destination, get unloaded and are able to relax and enjoy the days we are there for the holiday..until the day before we leave to come home, and then we have to reload the vehicle, this time with the acquired gifts from respective grandparents and other family members and realize we need a Uhaul to return home!
I know that my family has an appreciation of our travel, they've seen us do it plenty. But, this year, if you have someone travelling to see you, that is making the effort to be in your presence during this special time of year because it feels like home to them, take the time to thank them and appreciate the efforts they make to spend that time with you. Find out if there is anything you can do to make that trip easier for them. And, if the option is available, make the offer to do the travelling to them sometimes.
Do you travel for the holidays? Or maybe you have the home that is always the place everyone else comes to be with each other for the holidays. Either way, you probably know someone that is generally on the road for the holidays. We are a military family, and had the luxury at our last assignment to be at "home" in Louisiana and close to the rest of our family for three years of holidays. We were able to do Christmas Eve at my parent's house, as we traditionally do. It's the one for sure time of the year that my sisters and I, our spouses (unless there is a deployment) and all of our children are at my Mama and Daddy's. We have shrimp stew every year, a tradition that started before I can remember with my Daddy's mama (Grammy) cooking for us each year. Then, my mother took over, and the last couple of years I've taken that task (although I still don't like mine as much as Grammy's or my Mama's. I'll try to remember to blog about the task this year, with pictures.) We open presents, and laugh, and make new memories each year. Those three years we were in Louisiana (and the three we were there for our first assignment) were great. We've also lived in England, Virginia, and now Alabama. We've spent those holidays away from any family, spent them with our military families, and made other memories. This year, being in Alabama, we are close enough to travel home fairly often and see our families. My husband and our kids will be able to spend time with my in-laws, and we'll be able to be with my family this year for Christmas Eve and my parents for Christmas morning. I'm not sure where next year will take us, so we will wait to see what that plan is.
So...getting to the point...I love being at my Mama and Daddy's anytime, but especially for Christmas. No bones about it. But sometimes, I really dread the packing and travelling part. Especially for Christmas. If you have never travelled for the holidays, and never travelled with children for the holidays, you may not understand or appreciate what it takes for a family of four (just using that number because that's what we are) and a dog to get ready to go on the road for Christmas, and to prepare to spend it at multiple homes.
First off, we have to prepare to pack. Now, for us, we may take more than normal, because when we go to Louisiana for the holidays, it is also hunting season. So, because of that, we are taking our guns or my bow and any other hunting paraphenalia, in addition to the other luggage. We may have to take 2 vehicles this year. We have to plan accordingly for packing the gifts, and arrange for Santa to deliver our children's gifts to the appropriate Christmas morning location. This year, we've also made arrangements for our dog, Buster, to stay at the vet instead of taking him with us.
We have to contact the local authorities to do a daily drive by of the house, as well as work out with our neighbors to just keep an eye on the house. I have to make arrangements for our mail to be put on hold, and make sure any packages that may have been sent to us by UPS or FedEx get picked up off our porch.
The day of travel, we get all loaded up and set out on the trip (this year a meager 7 hour drive), and without fail, get a few miles down the road and realize something was left on, the alarm didn't get set, or someone forgot their phone charger (normally me) and have to turn around to resolve the issue.
We plan our time there beforehand, planning whe we will be able to spend time with and on what days, making sure that we try to see everyone, and apologizing to those that the time just isn't going to allow. I may not have mentioned this before, but I work from home for my mother's business, so while we are there, I will also be working for the days that our office is open. I am so blessed that I can travel and still work.
Ultimately, we arrive at the destination, get unloaded and are able to relax and enjoy the days we are there for the holiday..until the day before we leave to come home, and then we have to reload the vehicle, this time with the acquired gifts from respective grandparents and other family members and realize we need a Uhaul to return home!
I know that my family has an appreciation of our travel, they've seen us do it plenty. But, this year, if you have someone travelling to see you, that is making the effort to be in your presence during this special time of year because it feels like home to them, take the time to thank them and appreciate the efforts they make to spend that time with you. Find out if there is anything you can do to make that trip easier for them. And, if the option is available, make the offer to do the travelling to them sometimes.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
All I want is....
***First, let me start this by saying, I have made it through my first month of my no-shopping pledge!!! I haven't bought a single piece of clothing or pair of shoes in one whole month!! 11 more to go!***
On that note, I'll switch my blog topic of Wish List..HA! My and Richard's 13th anniversary is the week of Thanksgiving, my birthday is the first week of December and then of course, there's Christmas! So, if you can't provide me with world peace (which my husband all ready works on), here are a few things that I have in mind that I would like to have....
1) The only big ticket item on my list: A new washer and dryer!!! The washer and dryer we currently have work, but only if you don't mind the super loud racket the washer makes and running your clothes 2 to 3 times through the dryer to get them dry! Specifically I would like the LG - 4.5 Cu. Ft. 14-Cycle Ultra Capacity High-Efficiency Washer and LG - SteamDryer 7.3 Cu. Ft. 14-Cycle Ultra Capacity Electric Dryer, both in white. Please.
2) I would really like a watch. I haven't worn a watch in years, I tend to rely on my cell phone. But would like to have a watch, all the same. Here's an idea of what I would like: silver, rectangular face with rhinestones around the face, but not on the band. I would post a link to one, but have yet to see one that I really like.
3) The Nook Tablet. Please.
4) A new coffee maker, this is what I would like: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=17320726&RN=2353&
5) A successful deer hunt, or two. Would love to get a nice sized buck that is large enough to get mounted. If I were going to be extravagant (winky-face), I'd love to go on a romantic deer hunting trip at a nice hunting lodge in Pike County, Illinois. That would be a great gift for our 15th wedding anniversary...just sayin'.
That's pretty much it, the extent of things I think I really want. That said, I honestly will be perfectly happy to wake up on any of these 3 days to a happy, healthy marriage, happy, healthy kids, and all of our basic needs met.
On that note, I'll switch my blog topic of Wish List..HA! My and Richard's 13th anniversary is the week of Thanksgiving, my birthday is the first week of December and then of course, there's Christmas! So, if you can't provide me with world peace (which my husband all ready works on), here are a few things that I have in mind that I would like to have....
1) The only big ticket item on my list: A new washer and dryer!!! The washer and dryer we currently have work, but only if you don't mind the super loud racket the washer makes and running your clothes 2 to 3 times through the dryer to get them dry! Specifically I would like the LG - 4.5 Cu. Ft. 14-Cycle Ultra Capacity High-Efficiency Washer and LG - SteamDryer 7.3 Cu. Ft. 14-Cycle Ultra Capacity Electric Dryer, both in white. Please.
2) I would really like a watch. I haven't worn a watch in years, I tend to rely on my cell phone. But would like to have a watch, all the same. Here's an idea of what I would like: silver, rectangular face with rhinestones around the face, but not on the band. I would post a link to one, but have yet to see one that I really like.
3) The Nook Tablet. Please.
4) A new coffee maker, this is what I would like: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=17320726&RN=2353&
5) A successful deer hunt, or two. Would love to get a nice sized buck that is large enough to get mounted. If I were going to be extravagant (winky-face), I'd love to go on a romantic deer hunting trip at a nice hunting lodge in Pike County, Illinois. That would be a great gift for our 15th wedding anniversary...just sayin'.
That's pretty much it, the extent of things I think I really want. That said, I honestly will be perfectly happy to wake up on any of these 3 days to a happy, healthy marriage, happy, healthy kids, and all of our basic needs met.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Gumbo
I have had a few of my friends request this recipe lately, so I thought I'd post it again and share. This picture is from the gumbo I made today, however it's turkey and sausage instead of chicken and sausage. I used the leftover turkey that we fried last night.
Here's the recipe for my usual gumbo:
Melissa’s Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
2 cups flour
2 cups canola oil
2 large onions, chopped
1 bunch celery, chopped (including leaves)
4 green bell peppers, chopped
2 rotisserie chickens, skinned and de-boned
2 lbs link sausage, sliced (spicy or mild, depending on your taste)
2 lbs raw, peeled shrimp, tails off, thawed
1 bottle beer (any kind, I try to use a light beer like Coor's Light or Mich Ultra)
3 32oz containers chicken broth ( i like to use low-sodium)
Tony's to taste
Tabasco or Louisiana Hot Sauce to taste
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Thyme to taste
3 bay leaves
TIP: do all your chopping of veggies before you get started. You won't be able to do it during the cooking part...
In large pot, brown sausage over med/high heat for about 2-3 minutes, stirring around often. Take out and drain on paper towel. Reduce heat to med/lo and add oil and 1 1/2 cups flour, whisking together until smooth. Save the other 1/2 cup of flour for now. Continue stirring, constantly, until roux is a nice brown color. I like to do this over a medium-low heat so that it doesn't burn, and it helps develop a nicer flavor. This can take about 20-30 minutes, depending on the type of pot you are using. I normally use my Magnalite pot or my black cast iron (as pictured above), and it takes me right at 30 minutes to get it the perfect color. Right when it's getting to the color you want, add in the other 1/2 cup of flour. This helps keep it from becoming too thin. The longer you brown it, the more it breaks down the flour's thickening agent. Once you stir that in and it's smooth (about 3-4 minutes), add in all your chopped vegetables. Continue stirring for 5-10 minutes, making sure to scrape along the bottom of the pot. Slowly add in the broth, one carton at a time, stirring constantly to keep it smooth. I like to add one at a time and let it rest for a minute or two before adding the next one. Next, pour in your bottle of beer. This gives a nice flavor, I always add it to mine, but I know a lot of people don't, so it is optional. Add your Tony's, hot sauce, thyme, black pepper, and bay leaves at this point. I add the Tony's and hot sauce gradually, tasting it every 10-15 minutes during cook time. You can always add more, but you can't take it out. Let this cook over a medium heat for about 30-45 minutes, stirring often and making sure to stir all the way to the bottom of the pot. Add chicken and sausage to the pot, reduce heat to medium low and let cook for an additional 30-45 minutes, stirring often. Next you will add your shrimp, and I always do this in the last 10-15 minutes because it doesn't take them long to cook and you don't want them to get tough. Let it cook a little longer until shrimp are pink. We like to serve ours with some crusty French bread and a scoop of plain potato salad in the middle of the bowl. ("Plain" means potatoes, boiled egg, a little of pickle relish, mayo and salt and pepper. The gumbo all ready has all the other stuff in it.)
This recipe makes a ton, I normally half it when I'm just making for our family of 4, but it will freeze nicely, too. Also, you can change the meat choices out, I don't always put shrimp in mine, sometimes I will use crawfish, or no seafood at all. That is part of the art of making gumbo, you can change it up to suit your tastes. Enjoy!!
Melissa’s Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
2 cups flour
2 cups canola oil
2 large onions, chopped
1 bunch celery, chopped (including leaves)
4 green bell peppers, chopped
2 rotisserie chickens, skinned and de-boned
2 lbs link sausage, sliced (spicy or mild, depending on your taste)
2 lbs raw, peeled shrimp, tails off, thawed
1 bottle beer (any kind, I try to use a light beer like Coor's Light or Mich Ultra)
3 32oz containers chicken broth ( i like to use low-sodium)
Tony's to taste
Tabasco or Louisiana Hot Sauce to taste
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Thyme to taste
3 bay leaves
TIP: do all your chopping of veggies before you get started. You won't be able to do it during the cooking part...
In large pot, brown sausage over med/high heat for about 2-3 minutes, stirring around often. Take out and drain on paper towel. Reduce heat to med/lo and add oil and 1 1/2 cups flour, whisking together until smooth. Save the other 1/2 cup of flour for now. Continue stirring, constantly, until roux is a nice brown color. I like to do this over a medium-low heat so that it doesn't burn, and it helps develop a nicer flavor. This can take about 20-30 minutes, depending on the type of pot you are using. I normally use my Magnalite pot or my black cast iron (as pictured above), and it takes me right at 30 minutes to get it the perfect color. Right when it's getting to the color you want, add in the other 1/2 cup of flour. This helps keep it from becoming too thin. The longer you brown it, the more it breaks down the flour's thickening agent. Once you stir that in and it's smooth (about 3-4 minutes), add in all your chopped vegetables. Continue stirring for 5-10 minutes, making sure to scrape along the bottom of the pot. Slowly add in the broth, one carton at a time, stirring constantly to keep it smooth. I like to add one at a time and let it rest for a minute or two before adding the next one. Next, pour in your bottle of beer. This gives a nice flavor, I always add it to mine, but I know a lot of people don't, so it is optional. Add your Tony's, hot sauce, thyme, black pepper, and bay leaves at this point. I add the Tony's and hot sauce gradually, tasting it every 10-15 minutes during cook time. You can always add more, but you can't take it out. Let this cook over a medium heat for about 30-45 minutes, stirring often and making sure to stir all the way to the bottom of the pot. Add chicken and sausage to the pot, reduce heat to medium low and let cook for an additional 30-45 minutes, stirring often. Next you will add your shrimp, and I always do this in the last 10-15 minutes because it doesn't take them long to cook and you don't want them to get tough. Let it cook a little longer until shrimp are pink. We like to serve ours with some crusty French bread and a scoop of plain potato salad in the middle of the bowl. ("Plain" means potatoes, boiled egg, a little of pickle relish, mayo and salt and pepper. The gumbo all ready has all the other stuff in it.)
This recipe makes a ton, I normally half it when I'm just making for our family of 4, but it will freeze nicely, too. Also, you can change the meat choices out, I don't always put shrimp in mine, sometimes I will use crawfish, or no seafood at all. That is part of the art of making gumbo, you can change it up to suit your tastes. Enjoy!!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Attacked by Magazines
Am I the only person that takes offense to the magazines that are placed at a child's eye level in grocery store check out lines? The pictures and story lines that jump off of them and into my child's face are seriously disturbing. I have enough of a challenge keeping topics of sex and what the world thinks is the best body image for a man or woman out of the world of my kids, without having to go preview the checkout aisle before letting them enter. I have pretty much gotten to the point of just not taking them with me when I go to the store. I will say that the first store that I have personally been in that makes an effort to protect young eyes from these rags is the Publix here by my house. They have opaque plastic covers in front of all of the questionable magazines that are placed in the check out line. They are a more expensive store than some of the other chain grocery stores, but I'm willing to pay the extra money if my kid are with me, knowing they won't be exposed to that garbage. I'm not sure what can be done to change this in other stores, but the topic headlines on some of these magazines (namely, Cosmopolitan and Glamour) are, in my opinion, pornographic, and should be treated as such.
The others that get me are the tabloids that will have "undoctored" photos of celebrities at their most unattractive moments, that have zoomed in on the cellulite that is exposed in whatever outfit they have on. Really??? Shame on the publication, shame on the stores for displaying it, and SHAME on the people that buy that trash and use it to dictate thier lives. Our society has become so consumed with "keeping up" with the star of the moment, that they don't know what reality is anymore. Women, if you are using these magazines to dictate who you are and how you should act, you are looking in the wrong place, and I can pretty much promise you that they are not encouraging you to behave like a lady should. Try reading Proverbs 31.
The others that get me are the tabloids that will have "undoctored" photos of celebrities at their most unattractive moments, that have zoomed in on the cellulite that is exposed in whatever outfit they have on. Really??? Shame on the publication, shame on the stores for displaying it, and SHAME on the people that buy that trash and use it to dictate thier lives. Our society has become so consumed with "keeping up" with the star of the moment, that they don't know what reality is anymore. Women, if you are using these magazines to dictate who you are and how you should act, you are looking in the wrong place, and I can pretty much promise you that they are not encouraging you to behave like a lady should. Try reading Proverbs 31.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis?
My husband and I recently decded that this year for Christmas, we were going to minimize what we purchased for the kids. We decided this year it will be 4 Santa gifts, and 4 gifts from us. To some, that may still seem extravagant, but it is a large scale down from what we have set as the "standard loot" on Christmas morning. We also decided that we are going to put that extra money towards helping another family purchase Christmas gifts, that might not otherwise have Christmas. We want to get the kids involved in that, as well, so that they might have a better appreciation for the blessings we've been given, and to help instill a giving nature in their heart. This morning, as I was getting the kids ready for school, I shared with them this news. Rachel was talking about things that she thought she might like to have on her Christmas Wish List and I told them to be very selective about what they chose to put on the list, as the number of items was going to be less. Brian was really excited about helping pick out items for another family, and quickly reminded himself that his birthday is only 2 weeks after Christmas (a good reaction, still some work to be done there). Rachel's reaction was more like this....
And the exact reassurance that we are making the right decision on what we should be doing.
2 Corinthians 8:7 "But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, ni complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving."
And the exact reassurance that we are making the right decision on what we should be doing.
2 Corinthians 8:7 "But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, ni complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving."
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Cleaning out my closet...
Proverbs 31: 25-26 "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."
This afternoon, I did my seasonal "closet change-out" from spring and summer clothes to fall and winter clothes. I hope I'm not the only person that does this!! As I looked at the piles of clothes in front of me, I decided that I was going to challenge myself to fast from shopping. To some of you this may seem petty, but to those of you who know how much I like to shop, and how much I love clothes...you know what a challenge this will be. I am committing to not buying any new clothes, other than necessities (undergarments, socks, etc) for 1 year. That's 12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days. You get the point. Between now and October 11, 2012, I am not going to buy any clothes or shoes for myself that are not an absolute requirement. And to be honest, I can't think of anything that would require something that I don't have all ready. Instead, I want to pledge to buy one new outfit a month for a woman or child in need. I haven't yet found the program I want to donate to, so if you have any ideas or suggestions, please pass them along. I'm starting first by donating all of the clothes I have that I don't use that I used to wear when I worked in an office setting. I have a pile of slacks and couple of suits that I will not be wearing anytime soon.
So I've challenged myself and now I'm going to challenge any person that reads this blog. What can you give up for 12 months and replace with something that will benefit someone else instead? Challenge yourself.
UPDATE: I had heard of this cause, and just now found the info for it. Take a look: http://www.inmatemoms.org/programs-clothing-closet.aspx..
This afternoon, I did my seasonal "closet change-out" from spring and summer clothes to fall and winter clothes. I hope I'm not the only person that does this!! As I looked at the piles of clothes in front of me, I decided that I was going to challenge myself to fast from shopping. To some of you this may seem petty, but to those of you who know how much I like to shop, and how much I love clothes...you know what a challenge this will be. I am committing to not buying any new clothes, other than necessities (undergarments, socks, etc) for 1 year. That's 12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days. You get the point. Between now and October 11, 2012, I am not going to buy any clothes or shoes for myself that are not an absolute requirement. And to be honest, I can't think of anything that would require something that I don't have all ready. Instead, I want to pledge to buy one new outfit a month for a woman or child in need. I haven't yet found the program I want to donate to, so if you have any ideas or suggestions, please pass them along. I'm starting first by donating all of the clothes I have that I don't use that I used to wear when I worked in an office setting. I have a pile of slacks and couple of suits that I will not be wearing anytime soon.
So I've challenged myself and now I'm going to challenge any person that reads this blog. What can you give up for 12 months and replace with something that will benefit someone else instead? Challenge yourself.
UPDATE: I had heard of this cause, and just now found the info for it. Take a look: http://www.inmatemoms.org/programs-clothing-closet.aspx..
Monday, October 10, 2011
Weekend at home...
We got to the exit on the interstate that takes us to my parents home, and my kids started cheering and exclaiming "We are HOME!!"....My heart swelled with pride that they have a place that they consider to be their home, and at the same time ached with sorrow that the visit was going to be short lived, as we were only there for a weekend. We arrived at my parents' home late Friday night, and it was an instant therapy for my soul to just walk into their door. My children love being with both sets of their grandparents. My husband and I were greatly blessed with parents that have set wonderful examples of what marriage is supposed to be and how to make family important. I have to be honest and say that I sometimes covet the fact that my sisters have my parents within reach at all times, and especially after having that myself for the last 3 years and now to be removed from that setting again makes that nerve a little tender. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband and his commitment to his job and our country, and support that wholeheartedly. I will follow him anywhere and proudly do so. That said, that doesn't mean my heart won't ache for my family back home. Don't take for granted the relationships that are at your disposal. Don't take for granted the love and acceptance that can only come from your family. Don't take for granted the accountability and balance you can get only from your family. Don't take for granted the roots that are buried deep and make the family strong. I love that my kids think of Louisiana as "home" and that they love spending time with their grandparents. They have an abundance of cousins and aunts and uncles that they have been able to establish relationships with that will last a lifetime. We are truly blessed to have the roots that God has given us...I pray that we continue to nourish them wisely.
Monday, October 3, 2011
rock salt
One example of how cholesteatoma has had an effect on my life:
This morning, Rachel is calling out to me, "Mama, do we have any rock salt? We are supposed to be taking some to school!" I'm thinking to myself, "what in the world do they need rock salt for? and heck no, I don't have any in the pantry!" I'm scrounging around looking for some in the pantry as Rachel comes into the kitchen with her note from school with the request...and then I read it. "Box Tops" and "Rock Salt" now sound very similar to me....
This morning, Rachel is calling out to me, "Mama, do we have any rock salt? We are supposed to be taking some to school!" I'm thinking to myself, "what in the world do they need rock salt for? and heck no, I don't have any in the pantry!" I'm scrounging around looking for some in the pantry as Rachel comes into the kitchen with her note from school with the request...and then I read it. "Box Tops" and "Rock Salt" now sound very similar to me....
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Shellac
I have to say first off..I'm not much of a mani-pedi type of gal. I would say I've had it done less than 15-20 times in my life. Usually, I opt out of a manicure because the paint just never lasts and I always feel it's a waste of money. But this past weekend, when Briana was here, we went to a place right by my house called VIP Nails (pronounced V-I-P Nails, unless you are my 7 yr old and then you call it Vip Nails) and the lady talked me into trying this new stuff called Shellac. That was Saturday. Today is Wednesday. The day that I would normally be peeling the last scraps of polish that were left on my nails off. Not with this stuff!!! They look exactly as they did when I left the salon on Saturday! Not a chip, scratch or peel of polish anywhere! I have a feeling you might need a chisel to remove this polish. I would post a picture...but my hands really aren't that pretty. Just trust me..if you have a salon around you that offers this stuff, you have to try it out. I'm afraid this could make me atleast a monthly manicure snob. It was $47 for the mani-pedi combo, although I only have the Shellac on my fingernails, since pedicures tend to last longer anyway. Still cheaper than some salons I have been to before for this service. I will say, Briana's lady was not the most attentive, as she was on her cell phone for atleast half of the time she was supposed to be working on her. The owners didn't seem to happy with her customer service, and I have a feeling that she got a reprimand after we were gone.
Monday, September 19, 2011
September weekend...
What a wonderful weekend!! My great friend Briana came to visit Friday night, all the way from Louisiana, just to visit for the weekend. She also delivered Johnny's pizza to us! Johnny's is a Louisiana treat, and always yummy! Saturday morning, we got up early to head out to Rachel's game that she cheered for and then off to catch the last half of Brian's game. Brian's team won 28-6, he was super excited. Here's a few pics...
Then, Saturday afternoon, us girls went for mani/pedi's and a little shopping. We found this great little store called Fresh Market that was very nice. We got some beautiful steaks and fresh asparagus and peppers and grilled those for supper. I also made some really bad for you mashed potatoes that were amazing. The weather was great all day, and that evening we sat outside and enjoyed the cooler temps and just visiting. Sunday, we got ready to go to church, and Briana had to leave to head back home so we said our goodbyes. After church, Richard, the kids and I headed out to our deer lease to help out with the work day. We spent all afternoon out there and got alot accomplished. By the time we got back home, we were all exhausted and it didn't take long for me to pass out on the sofa after a bath and dinner. It was a great weekend. This week will be super busy with cheerleading and football practices, bible study, and more games this weekend. I have a feeling this fall is going to go by quickly, I pray that we are able to have lots of great weekends that we are able to enjoy like this past one.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
First Day of School...
Yesterday was Brian and Rachel's first day of school at their new elementary school. Here's some pics before we headed off to take them to school....
can't see them? oh wait..that's cause I just accidentally deleted them when I tried transferring them from my camera to the computer!!!! They were really cute pictures, too. Sigh. I'll take some tomorrow and pretend it's their first day.
can't see them? oh wait..that's cause I just accidentally deleted them when I tried transferring them from my camera to the computer!!!! They were really cute pictures, too. Sigh. I'll take some tomorrow and pretend it's their first day.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
This week...
So much going on over the last week..Richard is getting in to his routine of school finally. I think we are going to enjoy his more relaxed schedule during the day.
Brian had his first football practice Friday night. Look out NFL, we may have a rising star on our hands...or not. But either way, he is very excited about playing, and that is what's important. I can't wait to see how much he learns this first season and how much he will improve over the next few months. I'll be sure to share some pictures as the season progresses.
Both kids start school tomorrow, and are finally ready to have regular interaction with kids other than each other. I am ready for them to have something to focus on other than each other, myself!
We have pretty much got the house settled and things unpacked, although we still have to purchase a set of mattresses for the guest bed and get some bookshelves for the office area. The house is comfortable and I think we are going to enjoy living here.
Some of the things I never look forward to about moving to a new place:
1) Finding a new church
2) Finding a new hairdresser
3) Finding new dentist/doctor
4) Making new friends
We scratched #1 off our list today. I am so thankful that God directed us to a church that has so much to offer us, and a place that we can fit in and return God's love and serve His family. The kids both loved the children's worship service, and we went to the contemporary service. The music was amazing, very powerful and the message shared was down to earth and realistic application. Not one of those fluff you up and make you feel good about yourself types of services, but one of conviction and Christian-life principles that really hit home with my heart today. To me, any church that has a sermon that makes you realize you're not living up to your full Christian potential is a good one! We got signed up to be in a small group that will meet on Wednesday nights at the church with a meal and childcare provided, can't beat that!
I worked on #2 and #4 at Brian's first football practice Friday night. I met a few of the other moms that were very friendly, although, I'm terrible at remembering their names, and got some tips on where to go for a good haircut and style. I'm definitely due for a good trim. I look forward to seeing them more often as practices are going to be 3 times a week throughout the season.
Rachel is signed up to do cheerleading, so once that starts, I'm sure our schedule is going to be very busy and full of activities. I can't wait to make this place feel like home and less like a long-term displacement....we are on our way to that.
Brian had his first football practice Friday night. Look out NFL, we may have a rising star on our hands...or not. But either way, he is very excited about playing, and that is what's important. I can't wait to see how much he learns this first season and how much he will improve over the next few months. I'll be sure to share some pictures as the season progresses.
Both kids start school tomorrow, and are finally ready to have regular interaction with kids other than each other. I am ready for them to have something to focus on other than each other, myself!
We have pretty much got the house settled and things unpacked, although we still have to purchase a set of mattresses for the guest bed and get some bookshelves for the office area. The house is comfortable and I think we are going to enjoy living here.
Some of the things I never look forward to about moving to a new place:
1) Finding a new church
2) Finding a new hairdresser
3) Finding new dentist/doctor
4) Making new friends
We scratched #1 off our list today. I am so thankful that God directed us to a church that has so much to offer us, and a place that we can fit in and return God's love and serve His family. The kids both loved the children's worship service, and we went to the contemporary service. The music was amazing, very powerful and the message shared was down to earth and realistic application. Not one of those fluff you up and make you feel good about yourself types of services, but one of conviction and Christian-life principles that really hit home with my heart today. To me, any church that has a sermon that makes you realize you're not living up to your full Christian potential is a good one! We got signed up to be in a small group that will meet on Wednesday nights at the church with a meal and childcare provided, can't beat that!
I worked on #2 and #4 at Brian's first football practice Friday night. I met a few of the other moms that were very friendly, although, I'm terrible at remembering their names, and got some tips on where to go for a good haircut and style. I'm definitely due for a good trim. I look forward to seeing them more often as practices are going to be 3 times a week throughout the season.
Rachel is signed up to do cheerleading, so once that starts, I'm sure our schedule is going to be very busy and full of activities. I can't wait to make this place feel like home and less like a long-term displacement....we are on our way to that.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Lasagna For the First Time!!
I have something to confess...I've never made homemade lasagna before. Ever. I've made manicotti and other similar pasta dishes, but never lasagna. So tonight, I'm giving it a try. I'm using a recipe from Southern Living that only has about 8 or 9 ingredients, one of which is water so it doesn't really qualify in the flavor-producing factor, so I'm sure I'm going to embelish it a little bit. Given it's almost 6pm and I haven't starte don it yet, I better get moving...I'll let you know how it turns out!!
UPDATE***So, I used the recipe from Southern Living called Extra Easy Lasagna. I used Italian Sausage instead of ground beef, and I added a finely chopped Vidalia onion and bell pepper. I also mixed in goat cheese with the ricotta. It was super good, Richard says I'm not allowed to use any other lasagna recipe ever.
UPDATE***So, I used the recipe from Southern Living called Extra Easy Lasagna. I used Italian Sausage instead of ground beef, and I added a finely chopped Vidalia onion and bell pepper. I also mixed in goat cheese with the ricotta. It was super good, Richard says I'm not allowed to use any other lasagna recipe ever.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Vacation
Well, we are here on vacation finally! We got here to Gulf Shores Saturday and have been relaxing and recovering from the last couple of month's chaos since then. The weather has been amazing, the kids have been great, and my hubby is so cute to look at. :)
We have managed to do absolutely nothing and it's been great. The days have consisted of coffee, breakfast, laying out while watching the kids play and my man fish, eat lunch, laying out while watching my kids play and my man fish, eat dinner, play games with the kids, go to sleep and do it all over again. Here's a few pictures from all that excitement:
My brother-in-law Mike and his family will arrive later today and be with us for the rest of the stay and we are very excited about spending some time with them. I'll post more pics later! Time to cook breakfast for the hungry vacationers!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
the mad rush..
I have only a few minutes to blog something so here goes...
We are going to be so busy the next few weeks!!! My man and I are going away to Vegas this weekend and then next week we get packed up for our move. It's during this time that I know that we will be eating quickly and grabbing food out and about and I am having very strong urges to cook some yummy food and can't do it!! I don't know if anyone else does that, but I get waves of creativity in the kitchen. It isn't there everyday. Somedays the last thing I want to do is step in the kitchen and put together a meal, especially knowing my kids are super picky and will probably complain about whatever I cook. But other days, I see some yummy recipe or think of some concoction on my own and I just can't wait to get in the kitchen and try it out! I'm inspired by some summer recipes I've seen lately and by all the freshness in food that summer brings. I can't wait to have a grill again and a schedule that will allow me to get in the kitchen and be creative!!! I've been spotting some yummy recipes and here is one that I saw this morning that I think I'm going to have to make when we go to the beach later next month...I'll leave you with the link!
http://www.heatherchristo.com/entertains/2011/06/20/peach-quesadillas/
We are going to be so busy the next few weeks!!! My man and I are going away to Vegas this weekend and then next week we get packed up for our move. It's during this time that I know that we will be eating quickly and grabbing food out and about and I am having very strong urges to cook some yummy food and can't do it!! I don't know if anyone else does that, but I get waves of creativity in the kitchen. It isn't there everyday. Somedays the last thing I want to do is step in the kitchen and put together a meal, especially knowing my kids are super picky and will probably complain about whatever I cook. But other days, I see some yummy recipe or think of some concoction on my own and I just can't wait to get in the kitchen and try it out! I'm inspired by some summer recipes I've seen lately and by all the freshness in food that summer brings. I can't wait to have a grill again and a schedule that will allow me to get in the kitchen and be creative!!! I've been spotting some yummy recipes and here is one that I saw this morning that I think I'm going to have to make when we go to the beach later next month...I'll leave you with the link!
http://www.heatherchristo.com/entertains/2011/06/20/peach-quesadillas/
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Corn Yumminess
I made this for dinner tonight (along with some fried deer steak and speckled butter beans) and it was delicious. Let me know what you think...
4 slices of bacon
2 Vidalia onions, chopped
kernels cut off of 8-10 ears of fresh corn
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, divided
1 tablespoon flour
salt and pepper
Nature's Seasons
2 Splenda packets, if desired.
In large skillet (I used my cast iron), fry bacon until crisp. Crumble and set aside. Saute onions in bacon grease for 5-7 minutes, until tender. Add corn and butter to skillet, stirring often for 4-5 minutes. In small bowl, mix 1/2 cup whipping cream and tablespoon of flour with a fork. Pour over the corn and onion mixture, stirring well. Slowly add the remaining cream. Season with salt and pepper and Nature's Seasons. Stir in crumbled bacon and let simmer for 4-5 minutes on low heat. You can also add 2 packets of Splenda (or a couple spoons of sugar) if you want it to be a little sweeter. SO GOOD.
4 slices of bacon
2 Vidalia onions, chopped
kernels cut off of 8-10 ears of fresh corn
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, divided
1 tablespoon flour
salt and pepper
Nature's Seasons
2 Splenda packets, if desired.
In large skillet (I used my cast iron), fry bacon until crisp. Crumble and set aside. Saute onions in bacon grease for 5-7 minutes, until tender. Add corn and butter to skillet, stirring often for 4-5 minutes. In small bowl, mix 1/2 cup whipping cream and tablespoon of flour with a fork. Pour over the corn and onion mixture, stirring well. Slowly add the remaining cream. Season with salt and pepper and Nature's Seasons. Stir in crumbled bacon and let simmer for 4-5 minutes on low heat. You can also add 2 packets of Splenda (or a couple spoons of sugar) if you want it to be a little sweeter. SO GOOD.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Speedy Summer...
It's only just begun and I feel like it's almost over all ready. It seems like there is so much going on over the next 2 months that it will be August before we know it and we won't have been able to slow down at all. Right now is kind of the calm before the storm. Richard and I are going to Vegas in a couple of weeks for a short getaway, just the two of us. We are tentatively scheduled to get packed out of this apartment the last week of June. That will start the day after Richard and I get back from our trip. Then, we'll be staying with my sweet Mama and Daddy until we leave (be praying for them!), which is looking like 14 July now, so that we can hopefully have our household goods delivered on 15 July. We'll have the weekend to get somewhat settled and then I'll be able to start work again on Monday. Sometime during that week, we'll get the kids signed up at their new school and hopefully find a TKD and gymnastics place for each of them. The week after that will be our slow down week, we'll be hitting Gulf Shores with the only agenda of soaking up sun and lots of laziness. We'll have one more week after that until Richard's classes start and the kids won't start school until 22 August. Our summer in Louisiana is going to go by quickly..our summer in Alabama will be a little more relaxed, which will be nice since I'll probably be in a deep depression over leaving my family and friends here...We will be back often, though, especially once hunting season starts, and it will be fine. We are looking forward to whatever God has in store for us next!
Monday, May 30, 2011
teary-eyed...
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
That was the scripture verse in one of my devotionals from this past week that I didn't get to read until today. This weekend was a great one on so many levels, and a sad one on others. Richard and I took the kids to Hot Springs with another family we are blessed to be friends with and spent the weekend fishing on the boat, eating...fishing...eating...you get the picture. It was a great, relaxing weekend. My kids got to go "tubing" for the first time...I could hear them laughing from the balcony of the condo we were in as my husband drove them past the area in the boat. It was such a sweet sound.
My husband and both the husband and wife of the other couple we were with are active duty members of the Air Force, and getting to spend Memorial Day weekend with them was great. I hope you all took the time to thank a member of our armed forces this weekend, and took the time to remember those that have fallen in our country's defense. My grandmother's brother died in WWII in the Battle of the Bulge..here's a link to his memorial page..http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56280135
He never got to meet his child that was born after he left for war. Those were such different times from today..when my husband deploys or goes TDY, we can call each other, Skype, email..all kind of communication that make the separation somewhat easier. When my grandfather and my great-uncle were off to war, all they had was the postal service to deliver what I can assume was far between letters as they relocated from one place to the other. My grandmother took pictures of my aunt that was born after Grampy left for war and sent them to him on a regular basis. He did not get to meet her until she was 3 years old. THREE YEARS OLD. Kind of makes me feel silly for complaining about a 6 month deployment here and there. Those are the heroes that we need to remember..the ones that have put their lives on the line..physically and emotionally to defend our country's freedoms.
This weekend also marked a day of sadness for a local family that had to say goodbye to their sweet angel that had been battling an illness so bravely for several months..Katie Caroline Ward was 6 years old when she went to meet Jesus on Saturday. 6 years old. My baby girl is 7 years old. I can not imagine the pain that this family is going through knowing they will have to go on without her.
I have always been thankful for my children, but somehow this story has caused me to see them in a much different way...I've been slower to chastise for silly things, and have come to tears hearing their laughter with the thought of never being able to hear it again. Please pray for the Ward family.
Please also continue to pray for Rachel's classmate and friend Madalyna as she continues to fight her battle against Faconi Anemia and is recovering from her bone marrow transplant. She has a long road ahead of her.
Please pray for the families in Missouri, Oklahoma and Alabama that are rebuilding their lives entirely after the recent tornadoes that have ravaged their areas. Many have lost their homes, but many have also lost loved ones that can not be replaced.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
This scripture is resounding in my heart tonight as I reflect on the lives lost that this weekend honors..the lives lost in the last few weeks to illness and the damage of nature...to the lives that will be saved eternally because in some way they have seen Jesus through these happenings..to the lives that are struggling with their faith because of these happenings...
Pray for your loved ones..reach out to your friends and families in need..hug your babies and listen to what they have to say as they tug at your shirt. You never know when you may not have that opportunity again.
That was the scripture verse in one of my devotionals from this past week that I didn't get to read until today. This weekend was a great one on so many levels, and a sad one on others. Richard and I took the kids to Hot Springs with another family we are blessed to be friends with and spent the weekend fishing on the boat, eating...fishing...eating...you get the picture. It was a great, relaxing weekend. My kids got to go "tubing" for the first time...I could hear them laughing from the balcony of the condo we were in as my husband drove them past the area in the boat. It was such a sweet sound.
My husband and both the husband and wife of the other couple we were with are active duty members of the Air Force, and getting to spend Memorial Day weekend with them was great. I hope you all took the time to thank a member of our armed forces this weekend, and took the time to remember those that have fallen in our country's defense. My grandmother's brother died in WWII in the Battle of the Bulge..here's a link to his memorial page..http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56280135
He never got to meet his child that was born after he left for war. Those were such different times from today..when my husband deploys or goes TDY, we can call each other, Skype, email..all kind of communication that make the separation somewhat easier. When my grandfather and my great-uncle were off to war, all they had was the postal service to deliver what I can assume was far between letters as they relocated from one place to the other. My grandmother took pictures of my aunt that was born after Grampy left for war and sent them to him on a regular basis. He did not get to meet her until she was 3 years old. THREE YEARS OLD. Kind of makes me feel silly for complaining about a 6 month deployment here and there. Those are the heroes that we need to remember..the ones that have put their lives on the line..physically and emotionally to defend our country's freedoms.
This weekend also marked a day of sadness for a local family that had to say goodbye to their sweet angel that had been battling an illness so bravely for several months..Katie Caroline Ward was 6 years old when she went to meet Jesus on Saturday. 6 years old. My baby girl is 7 years old. I can not imagine the pain that this family is going through knowing they will have to go on without her.
I have always been thankful for my children, but somehow this story has caused me to see them in a much different way...I've been slower to chastise for silly things, and have come to tears hearing their laughter with the thought of never being able to hear it again. Please pray for the Ward family.
Please also continue to pray for Rachel's classmate and friend Madalyna as she continues to fight her battle against Faconi Anemia and is recovering from her bone marrow transplant. She has a long road ahead of her.
Please pray for the families in Missouri, Oklahoma and Alabama that are rebuilding their lives entirely after the recent tornadoes that have ravaged their areas. Many have lost their homes, but many have also lost loved ones that can not be replaced.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
This scripture is resounding in my heart tonight as I reflect on the lives lost that this weekend honors..the lives lost in the last few weeks to illness and the damage of nature...to the lives that will be saved eternally because in some way they have seen Jesus through these happenings..to the lives that are struggling with their faith because of these happenings...
Pray for your loved ones..reach out to your friends and families in need..hug your babies and listen to what they have to say as they tug at your shirt. You never know when you may not have that opportunity again.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Luke 17:20-37
I didn't get to go to Bible study tonight because my baby girl is a little sick with sore throat and had a temp of 101. I hate that she's not feeling well, and I hate that I missed out on the study tonight..but I know there are reasons for all things. In doing my study in preparation for tonight (before baby girl got to feeling bad and I thought I was going) I happened on the scripture above and it jumped out at me. You may or may not have heard about the man that is predicting that this Saturday will be the return of Jesus, the Rapture, the end of the world..however you want to name it. If you haven't, here's a few links to articles about him and what he is saying:
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/05/19/dr-manny-end-coming-21st/
http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/19/news/economy/may-21-end-of-the-world-finances-harold-camping/index.htm
http://reformedbaptistfellowship.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/harold-camping-doomsday-prophecy-may-21-2011/
I can't say if this is going to happen, but I know this is what the Scripture says that Jesus himself stated when asked about the Coming of the Kingdom of God:
20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”[a]
22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day[b] will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” [36] [c]
37 “Where, Lord?” they asked.
He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”
( I copied and pasted that from this website: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+17%3A20-37&version=NIV)
You know how you get those emails from websites that you might frequently shop offering discounts and reminding you that the time to use that discount is about to run out?
I don't know if Jesus is coming back Saturday, Sunday, next year or even in our lifetime, but I do know this...we aren't going to get an email from him stating that it's our last chance to use our "get out of Hell free" coupon. There is no wait for tomorrow to get your life straight and then ask for forgiveness and salvation. Frankly, without Jesus, you won't get your life straight.
Romans 10:5-15 (New International Version)
5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”[a] 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”[b] (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’”[c] (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[d] that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[f]
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
(copied and pasted from http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:%205-15&version=NIV)
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/05/19/dr-manny-end-coming-21st/
http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/19/news/economy/may-21-end-of-the-world-finances-harold-camping/index.htm
http://reformedbaptistfellowship.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/harold-camping-doomsday-prophecy-may-21-2011/
I can't say if this is going to happen, but I know this is what the Scripture says that Jesus himself stated when asked about the Coming of the Kingdom of God:
20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”[a]
22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. 23 People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. 24 For the Son of Man in his day[b] will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32 Remember Lot’s wife! 33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” [36] [c]
37 “Where, Lord?” they asked.
He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”
( I copied and pasted that from this website: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+17%3A20-37&version=NIV)
You know how you get those emails from websites that you might frequently shop offering discounts and reminding you that the time to use that discount is about to run out?
I don't know if Jesus is coming back Saturday, Sunday, next year or even in our lifetime, but I do know this...we aren't going to get an email from him stating that it's our last chance to use our "get out of Hell free" coupon. There is no wait for tomorrow to get your life straight and then ask for forgiveness and salvation. Frankly, without Jesus, you won't get your life straight.
Romans 10:5-15 (New International Version)
5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”[a] 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”[b] (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’”[c] (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[d] that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[e] 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[f]
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
(copied and pasted from http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:%205-15&version=NIV)
Friday, May 13, 2011
Let It Go
A little something a friend shared with me today by T.D. Jakes...
There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you: let them walk. I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone.
When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left. The bible said that, "They came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us." [1 John 2:19]
People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay. Let them go. And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person, it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You've got to know when it's dead. You've got to know when it's over.
Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay. Let them go!!
If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to...LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains... LET IT GO!!!
If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth... LET IT GO!!!
If someone has angered you ... LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge.... LET IT GO!!!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction ... LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents .. LET IT GO!!!
If you have a bad attitude... LET IT GO!!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better... LET IT GO!!!
If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him... LET IT GO!!!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship.... LET IT GO!!!
If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves.. LET IT GO!!!
If you're feeling depressed and stressed ... LET IT GO!!!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to... LET IT GO!!!
Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for 2010!!! LET IT GO!!!
Get Right or Get Left .. think about it, and then LET IT GO !!!
There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you: let them walk. I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone.
When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left. The bible said that, "They came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us." [1 John 2:19]
People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay. Let them go. And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person, it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You've got to know when it's dead. You've got to know when it's over.
Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay. Let them go!!
If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to...LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains... LET IT GO!!!
If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth... LET IT GO!!!
If someone has angered you ... LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge.... LET IT GO!!!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction ... LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents .. LET IT GO!!!
If you have a bad attitude... LET IT GO!!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better... LET IT GO!!!
If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him... LET IT GO!!!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship.... LET IT GO!!!
If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves.. LET IT GO!!!
If you're feeling depressed and stressed ... LET IT GO!!!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to... LET IT GO!!!
Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for 2010!!! LET IT GO!!!
Get Right or Get Left .. think about it, and then LET IT GO !!!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Pizza Chicken Pasta
2 cups chopped cooked chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken from the deli at our grocery store)
1 block cream cheese, softened
1 jar Monjuni's spaghetti sauce (or whatever kind you like to use, I would probably try Prego Traditional if I can't get any Monjuni's)
1 lb penne pasta
Cook the penne according to directions on box. Drain and set aside.
Over low heat in a skillet, melt cream cheese. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Simmer over medium-low heat until cream cheese is blended well, 3-5 minutes. Add in chicken and continue to simmer until heated through.
Pour spaghetti sauce mixture over the pasta and stir together well. Top with some freshly grated parmesan and serve with a salad and crusty French bread. Super easy (and my kids loved it)!!
If I were fixing it just for me and Richard I might add some mushrooms, bell pepper and onion to jazz it up some. It was really good without it though. Suppose you could always puree that and add to the spaghetti sauce if you wanted to get some veggies by your kids though...
1 block cream cheese, softened
1 jar Monjuni's spaghetti sauce (or whatever kind you like to use, I would probably try Prego Traditional if I can't get any Monjuni's)
1 lb penne pasta
Cook the penne according to directions on box. Drain and set aside.
Over low heat in a skillet, melt cream cheese. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Simmer over medium-low heat until cream cheese is blended well, 3-5 minutes. Add in chicken and continue to simmer until heated through.
Pour spaghetti sauce mixture over the pasta and stir together well. Top with some freshly grated parmesan and serve with a salad and crusty French bread. Super easy (and my kids loved it)!!
If I were fixing it just for me and Richard I might add some mushrooms, bell pepper and onion to jazz it up some. It was really good without it though. Suppose you could always puree that and add to the spaghetti sauce if you wanted to get some veggies by your kids though...
Easter Weekend
What a great weekend!! And I'm so very sad because I don't have any pictures...I FORGOT MY CAMERA!
The kids were out of school on Friday, so they, along with 2 of their cousins, went home with my dad to spend the night at their house. They spent the day dying eggs with my mom and just having a good time in the country. Richard had to work, so I did a little house cleaning and work and then went to spend the afternoon with one of my best friends, Briana. She's been asking for some deer steak for a while, so I decided to whip up some fried deer steak to take over there for lunch. I also had some squash and zuchini that needed to be used, so I sauteed those with some onion and mixed it up with some bowtie pasta for a quick pasta salad. I had a Sweet Vidalia and Summer Tomato salad dressing, so I put a little of that on it, it was so light and yummy.
Then Friday night, Richard and I headed to my parents house and we grilled burgers. I hadn't had a homemade burger in a long time, and even longer since it was a homemade deer burger..they were awesome.
Saturday morning, Richard and I took the kids to Alexandria to meet up with his parents and youngest brother and took the kids to the zoo. They had a great time, even though the first five minutes in the zoo, Rachel accidentally leaned against a rail that had fresh bird droppings on it...she was not excited. But, we got it cleaned off thanks to the nice lady with baby wipes that was passing by at that time and saved the day.
We got back to mom and dad's Saturday evening and helped my parents do a little work up at the barn and then back to the house to enjoy dinner. Mama had marinated some steaks in some yumminess. Those were amazing.
Sunday morning came early with Sunrise Service for Easter. It was a beautiful service, the weather was perfect and the sky lit up brilliantly as the sun came up. We went to the breakfast afterwards at the church and then back home to start cooking for lunch. Between all of us there, we had a menue of ham, brisket, baked corn, scalloped potatoes, baked beans, overnight green beans, pea salad, fruit salad, rolls that Mama let rise in the back window of my Daddy's car...coconut cake and lemon pie, cookies and cake pops. We had a crowd of about 21 people, and that's just my parents, myself and my sisters with our respective families. We have been so richly blessed with love and laughter this weekend..and food!
Through all of that, I can promise that our main focus was not on the menu..but on the blessings we were sharing and the Reason we are able to share those blessings. I am so eternally thankful for God's gift to us of His Only Son..that he allowed to die on the cross for MY sins. He died for each and every one of us. My sister's parents-in-law were also with us yesterday for lunch, and as we sat around the dinner table after we were through eating, we were discussing the pain and torture Jesus must have endured that day he was led to the cross..and how it's impossible for us to even imagine that level of pain. We discussed the two criminals that were also crucified that day on either side of Jesus and how the one mocked him and the other said "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:40-43) Can you imagine, even in his intense suffering and pain, the elation that criminal must have felt at that moment hanging from that cross, knowing that he was about to spend eternity in the presence of God? One can only imagine the other criminal's disdain and horror the moment he realized that he had made an eternal mistake.
I know I will be with Jesus in paradise when my day comes. I have no doubt that my Savior lives and has saved me from a life of sin and pain and being lost among the aimless and blind in our own world. Am I still a sinner? YES. I am human and have human efforts at being a Christian. I am not foolish enough to believe any longer that I am capable of being a perfect person. I fully believe that I am a perfect creation of His and I choose to live my life trying to honor His will for me. Jesus's life and death was about forgiveness of sins, but also about teaching us how to live our human life in honor of Him. Who does your life honor?
The kids were out of school on Friday, so they, along with 2 of their cousins, went home with my dad to spend the night at their house. They spent the day dying eggs with my mom and just having a good time in the country. Richard had to work, so I did a little house cleaning and work and then went to spend the afternoon with one of my best friends, Briana. She's been asking for some deer steak for a while, so I decided to whip up some fried deer steak to take over there for lunch. I also had some squash and zuchini that needed to be used, so I sauteed those with some onion and mixed it up with some bowtie pasta for a quick pasta salad. I had a Sweet Vidalia and Summer Tomato salad dressing, so I put a little of that on it, it was so light and yummy.
Then Friday night, Richard and I headed to my parents house and we grilled burgers. I hadn't had a homemade burger in a long time, and even longer since it was a homemade deer burger..they were awesome.
Saturday morning, Richard and I took the kids to Alexandria to meet up with his parents and youngest brother and took the kids to the zoo. They had a great time, even though the first five minutes in the zoo, Rachel accidentally leaned against a rail that had fresh bird droppings on it...she was not excited. But, we got it cleaned off thanks to the nice lady with baby wipes that was passing by at that time and saved the day.
We got back to mom and dad's Saturday evening and helped my parents do a little work up at the barn and then back to the house to enjoy dinner. Mama had marinated some steaks in some yumminess. Those were amazing.
Sunday morning came early with Sunrise Service for Easter. It was a beautiful service, the weather was perfect and the sky lit up brilliantly as the sun came up. We went to the breakfast afterwards at the church and then back home to start cooking for lunch. Between all of us there, we had a menue of ham, brisket, baked corn, scalloped potatoes, baked beans, overnight green beans, pea salad, fruit salad, rolls that Mama let rise in the back window of my Daddy's car...coconut cake and lemon pie, cookies and cake pops. We had a crowd of about 21 people, and that's just my parents, myself and my sisters with our respective families. We have been so richly blessed with love and laughter this weekend..and food!
Through all of that, I can promise that our main focus was not on the menu..but on the blessings we were sharing and the Reason we are able to share those blessings. I am so eternally thankful for God's gift to us of His Only Son..that he allowed to die on the cross for MY sins. He died for each and every one of us. My sister's parents-in-law were also with us yesterday for lunch, and as we sat around the dinner table after we were through eating, we were discussing the pain and torture Jesus must have endured that day he was led to the cross..and how it's impossible for us to even imagine that level of pain. We discussed the two criminals that were also crucified that day on either side of Jesus and how the one mocked him and the other said "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, "Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:40-43) Can you imagine, even in his intense suffering and pain, the elation that criminal must have felt at that moment hanging from that cross, knowing that he was about to spend eternity in the presence of God? One can only imagine the other criminal's disdain and horror the moment he realized that he had made an eternal mistake.
I know I will be with Jesus in paradise when my day comes. I have no doubt that my Savior lives and has saved me from a life of sin and pain and being lost among the aimless and blind in our own world. Am I still a sinner? YES. I am human and have human efforts at being a Christian. I am not foolish enough to believe any longer that I am capable of being a perfect person. I fully believe that I am a perfect creation of His and I choose to live my life trying to honor His will for me. Jesus's life and death was about forgiveness of sins, but also about teaching us how to live our human life in honor of Him. Who does your life honor?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
SPOM (not to be confused with SPAM) and Garlic Herb Goat Cheese Grits
Here's what you need:
1 Onion, chopped
1 Green Bell Pepper, chopped
Bunch of Mushrooms, chopped
Worchestershire Sauce
1 package Beef Sausage, sliced into diagonal medallions
(You can use low fat, but it won't be greasy enough...yes, I said that out loud)
For the grits: Quick Cooking Grits, Chicken Broth, Half and Half (or Heavy Whipping Cream), 8oz pkg of Garlic-Herb Goat Cheese
Oh..and a glass of wine and some cheese to snack on while you are preparing...if you're into that sort of thing.
Put a few drizzles of olive oil in your cast iron skillet and get it super hot. Throw in the sausage and let it brown for a minute or two...
Then throw in the veggies and drizzle a little worchestershire on top. I also added some Tony's for seasoning. Cover and stir around occasionally, cooking over a medium high heat.
Cook your grits according to the package directions (I forgot to take pictures of this process). I use chicken broth instead of water to cook mine and when they are almost done, add about 1/2 cup half n half and the goat cheese. Stir until mixed thoroughly. I also add a little salt and pepper to taste. Some goat cheese is saltier than others, so taste as you go...but don't burn your tongue.
Spoon the grits onto your plate and then the sausage and peppers over that. Serve with a salad and some bread (we had caesar salad and buttered biscuits). My kids actually ate this, too.
Friday, April 15, 2011
"Giddy Up Oom Poppa Omm Poppa Mow Mow....."
Those are the words that kept going through my mind this morning as I tackled our new treadmill. I don't like going to public gyms because I feel very insecure and don't like to workout with all those mirrors they have in there where I can see every jiggly part I have going to it's own rythym.
Richard and I decided to get a treadmill to accomodate our busy schedule and it will allow us to get some exercise in either early in the morning or in the evenings once the kids are in bed..which seem to be the only down times that we have to spare. At any rate..we set the treadmill up in our bedroom and just so happens that it is directly across from our dresser...which has a mirror...which forces me to see myself on the treadmill. It's a side view, which is even worse. I've decided that when I walk or run on the treadmill..my bottom looks like one of those cars that has the fancy hydraulics on it and bounces around all over the place. So, I've decided to make that my scale of measurement as I continue with my exercise..how little hydraulics my bottom has left. Sounds like a plan to me.
Richard and I decided to get a treadmill to accomodate our busy schedule and it will allow us to get some exercise in either early in the morning or in the evenings once the kids are in bed..which seem to be the only down times that we have to spare. At any rate..we set the treadmill up in our bedroom and just so happens that it is directly across from our dresser...which has a mirror...which forces me to see myself on the treadmill. It's a side view, which is even worse. I've decided that when I walk or run on the treadmill..my bottom looks like one of those cars that has the fancy hydraulics on it and bounces around all over the place. So, I've decided to make that my scale of measurement as I continue with my exercise..how little hydraulics my bottom has left. Sounds like a plan to me.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Spring Time!!!
This means it's time to go get my spring/summer clothes out of storage and put away the fall/winter clothes!! It's like getting a whole new wardrobe!
My man got home yesterday after a month-long trip to Texas. We did get to see him at the halfway point, so it didn't seem quite as long as it was. Our little man is gone to church camp this weekend, so we only have Princess CoCo (or Sweet Little Darlin' as she is lovingly known as by other parts of the family). She has requested to go see "Hop" this weekend, so I suppose we'll be taking her to see that this afternoon.
A lazy weekend otherwise, and I'm glad for it. I want things to slow down a bit over the next few months as time ticks away closer and closer to our move date. We only have 14 weeks left until we move...that will be here before we know it. I think that realization hit our little girl this week as she came to terms with the fact that she's not going to be in class with her friends next year. One little girl in her class is leaving next week for a bone marrow transplant and they've prepared for her not to return to school as she recuperates from that. Rachel had a tearful morning and afternoon yesterday after they did a balloon release at her school in honor of Madalyna..here's a few pics from that:
It was a sweet day with lots of tears and supportive words given to her family. I've never seen people that put up such a strong front in the face of such challenges. They are truly an inspiration and remind me that I have so many blessings to be thankful for, and the little problems I have are nothing compared to some of the things others deal with on a daily basis. Really puts things in perspective.
So, today, I'm off to spend some great family time with my hubby and daughter and enjoy this beautiful, albeit windy, day God has given us, and taking time to count my blessings!
My man got home yesterday after a month-long trip to Texas. We did get to see him at the halfway point, so it didn't seem quite as long as it was. Our little man is gone to church camp this weekend, so we only have Princess CoCo (or Sweet Little Darlin' as she is lovingly known as by other parts of the family). She has requested to go see "Hop" this weekend, so I suppose we'll be taking her to see that this afternoon.
A lazy weekend otherwise, and I'm glad for it. I want things to slow down a bit over the next few months as time ticks away closer and closer to our move date. We only have 14 weeks left until we move...that will be here before we know it. I think that realization hit our little girl this week as she came to terms with the fact that she's not going to be in class with her friends next year. One little girl in her class is leaving next week for a bone marrow transplant and they've prepared for her not to return to school as she recuperates from that. Rachel had a tearful morning and afternoon yesterday after they did a balloon release at her school in honor of Madalyna..here's a few pics from that:
It was a sweet day with lots of tears and supportive words given to her family. I've never seen people that put up such a strong front in the face of such challenges. They are truly an inspiration and remind me that I have so many blessings to be thankful for, and the little problems I have are nothing compared to some of the things others deal with on a daily basis. Really puts things in perspective.
So, today, I'm off to spend some great family time with my hubby and daughter and enjoy this beautiful, albeit windy, day God has given us, and taking time to count my blessings!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Radical
Wow...I am bursting with things that I want to say. First and foremost, I need to start off by making some confessions.
1) I am not perfect. While that may not be a suprise to you, it has been a big pill for me to swallow. I was baptized at the age of 7, but did not really start having faith and knowing that Christ was my Savior until about 11 years later. The latter part of those 11 years for me was full of sin and complete disregard of the fact that I had committed myself as a young child to live for Christ and as a reflection of Him. I sought for acceptance and approval in every fashion possible except for from God. I made repeated mistakes and disappointed my parents (and myself) over and over. I was drowning in sin and, if you know me, you know that I am not a good swimmer. The September before I turned 19, I met the person that helped me wake up and see that I was not who Christ had planned for me to be, and the acceptance and approval I had been seeking was only going to come through Him. Now, while I became aware of that fact and professed faith in Him and His plan for my life, I have over the last 14 years been a Christian that has just put my toes in the water. I have not jumped in whole-heartedly to His plan for me, into His Word. I've wanted to be a Christian and still be in control, doing the right things by my own definition.
2) I have spent alot of time focused on the faults of others, and not on my own. For many years, I've dwelled on the faults and disappointments that I see in others, and not acknowledged that I am as faulty as they come. I am insecure about how others see me and, if I'm honest, sometimes conform to what I think others will like and approve. I have not studied God's Word. I mean, I know Bible stories, I know about things that happened in the Bible..I know how to look up a scripture that will apply to a situation..but I do not KNOW the Bible. I have not studied and sought Him in the Word. I have forgiveness that I'm reluctant to give, even though I know in my heart that forgiveness is a choice you make, not something that is earned or worked through.
OK...those are 2 big confessions and I'm going to stop there for now and focus on these. Recently I have prayed for a hunger for God's Word. Well, I just happened to pray for that around the time we were moving out of our house and into an apartment for the last few transitional months we have before moving to Alabama. Somehow in that move, my Bible got packed up and put into storage with some of our belongings that weren't coming into the apartment. When I tell you that a hunger has been laid on me that I never thought possible...I had to start using my 10 yr old son's Devotional Bible for Boys this past week. I just sort of aimlessly was flipping through the Bible, finding a story here or there and reading it. Well, I made the trip to a Christian bookstore yesterday to find a few things and bought myself a new Bible. I'd been wanting to get a good study Bible that focuses more on the history in the Bible than on devotional applications, so I got a Quest Study Bible. I love that it has the historical timelines and maps in the front and back for reference, and Q&A in the margins throughout. Anyway, while I was in the store, I also saw a book that I've heard my sweet sister Michelle mention before, called "Radical" by David Platt and decided to buy it as well. So, last night, I started reading the book, and I'm about halfway through the 2nd chapter and can I tell you that I am all ready feeling so convicted as a Christian. The book is about how America has commercialized and conformed Christianity to be what we want it to be, what is comfortable for us, rather than what God intended for us to be as Christians. That statement in itself is a direct reflection of who I am , and who I am not, as a Christian. I have been what is comfortable for me, not what God has called me to be. Jesus made it clear to his disciples that following Him was not going to be easy or comfortable. It is the same for us today as Christians. So, when I got to the middle of the chapter, somewhere in there, although when I went back to look for it I couldn't find it, it mentions the book of Hosea in the Bible. That is a book I've never studied (as are many others, but for some reason this one stuck out in my mind), so I decided to put down Radical and pick up my new Bible and flip to that book and start reading it. On a side note, can I mention how much I love the sound of those thin pages of the Bible being turned..it sounds amazing. Anyway, so I read the first 3 chapters of Hosea last night and wow. What a powerful read this is going to be. Since I'm not very familiar with the history of the Bible, it was nice to have the information at the beginning of the book that tells me a little about who Hosea was, when he wrote the book and a little about what is going on in the world when he wrote it. Hosea was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel that was under the rule of Jeroboam II, who apparantly was a really bad man. His leadership had promoted a "materialistic, immoral, unjust society" as it says in my Bible. Hmmm...that kind of sounds familiar, doesn't it? So anyway, Hosea is told by God to marry an adulterous wife and have children of unfaithfulness (1:2). What?? He marries a woman named Gomer and they have 3 children, 2 boys and a girl. As I read further into chapter 2, it talks about Israel being punished and then restored, and all I could see out of that scripture was how it reflected my own life with Christ. It talks about the unfaithfulness of the people and how they seek for happiness everywhere except from God, and it is all based on selfish desires. This part stuck out to me the most:
"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I willl give her back her vineyards and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. In that day, declares the Lord, you will call me "my Husband"; you will no longer call me "my Master." Hosea 2:14-16
When I read that, it suddenly hit me that all this time, I have not looked at being a Christian so much as having a relationship with God as I have that it is a task. God desires me to be even more attached and committed to Him than I am to my husband. He doesn't want me to view Him as something that I make time for, rather He desires to be my time. I have not been willing to give Him that time. I have not been willing to let go of my control over myself and allow Him to take over. That all changed last night as I read through those first three chapters of Hosea and saw myself as the adulterous mother that had been unfaithful to her Husband. Do not mistake me here, I have not been unfaithful to Richard, but to God. I made a commitment to be a Christian years ago, but it has been a commitment that I have only met when it was convienient for me.
Father, I ask you to take control. Take my heart and make it yours. Forgive me for not being completely committed to a life for You and the plans You have for me. Help me to be the wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend that you have desired for me to be. Continue to keep me hungry for your Word and fill me with desire to live my life for you. I know that you are my Savior, the only way and the Ultimate Forgiver. I need forgiveness and I need to give forgiveness, and I know those things can only be reached through You. Amen.
I am going to continue to study through Hosea and will discuss what it gives to me on here over the next few weeks. I look forward to what God is about to do in my life, in my marriage and in my family.
1) I am not perfect. While that may not be a suprise to you, it has been a big pill for me to swallow. I was baptized at the age of 7, but did not really start having faith and knowing that Christ was my Savior until about 11 years later. The latter part of those 11 years for me was full of sin and complete disregard of the fact that I had committed myself as a young child to live for Christ and as a reflection of Him. I sought for acceptance and approval in every fashion possible except for from God. I made repeated mistakes and disappointed my parents (and myself) over and over. I was drowning in sin and, if you know me, you know that I am not a good swimmer. The September before I turned 19, I met the person that helped me wake up and see that I was not who Christ had planned for me to be, and the acceptance and approval I had been seeking was only going to come through Him. Now, while I became aware of that fact and professed faith in Him and His plan for my life, I have over the last 14 years been a Christian that has just put my toes in the water. I have not jumped in whole-heartedly to His plan for me, into His Word. I've wanted to be a Christian and still be in control, doing the right things by my own definition.
2) I have spent alot of time focused on the faults of others, and not on my own. For many years, I've dwelled on the faults and disappointments that I see in others, and not acknowledged that I am as faulty as they come. I am insecure about how others see me and, if I'm honest, sometimes conform to what I think others will like and approve. I have not studied God's Word. I mean, I know Bible stories, I know about things that happened in the Bible..I know how to look up a scripture that will apply to a situation..but I do not KNOW the Bible. I have not studied and sought Him in the Word. I have forgiveness that I'm reluctant to give, even though I know in my heart that forgiveness is a choice you make, not something that is earned or worked through.
OK...those are 2 big confessions and I'm going to stop there for now and focus on these. Recently I have prayed for a hunger for God's Word. Well, I just happened to pray for that around the time we were moving out of our house and into an apartment for the last few transitional months we have before moving to Alabama. Somehow in that move, my Bible got packed up and put into storage with some of our belongings that weren't coming into the apartment. When I tell you that a hunger has been laid on me that I never thought possible...I had to start using my 10 yr old son's Devotional Bible for Boys this past week. I just sort of aimlessly was flipping through the Bible, finding a story here or there and reading it. Well, I made the trip to a Christian bookstore yesterday to find a few things and bought myself a new Bible. I'd been wanting to get a good study Bible that focuses more on the history in the Bible than on devotional applications, so I got a Quest Study Bible. I love that it has the historical timelines and maps in the front and back for reference, and Q&A in the margins throughout. Anyway, while I was in the store, I also saw a book that I've heard my sweet sister Michelle mention before, called "Radical" by David Platt and decided to buy it as well. So, last night, I started reading the book, and I'm about halfway through the 2nd chapter and can I tell you that I am all ready feeling so convicted as a Christian. The book is about how America has commercialized and conformed Christianity to be what we want it to be, what is comfortable for us, rather than what God intended for us to be as Christians. That statement in itself is a direct reflection of who I am , and who I am not, as a Christian. I have been what is comfortable for me, not what God has called me to be. Jesus made it clear to his disciples that following Him was not going to be easy or comfortable. It is the same for us today as Christians. So, when I got to the middle of the chapter, somewhere in there, although when I went back to look for it I couldn't find it, it mentions the book of Hosea in the Bible. That is a book I've never studied (as are many others, but for some reason this one stuck out in my mind), so I decided to put down Radical and pick up my new Bible and flip to that book and start reading it. On a side note, can I mention how much I love the sound of those thin pages of the Bible being turned..it sounds amazing. Anyway, so I read the first 3 chapters of Hosea last night and wow. What a powerful read this is going to be. Since I'm not very familiar with the history of the Bible, it was nice to have the information at the beginning of the book that tells me a little about who Hosea was, when he wrote the book and a little about what is going on in the world when he wrote it. Hosea was a prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel that was under the rule of Jeroboam II, who apparantly was a really bad man. His leadership had promoted a "materialistic, immoral, unjust society" as it says in my Bible. Hmmm...that kind of sounds familiar, doesn't it? So anyway, Hosea is told by God to marry an adulterous wife and have children of unfaithfulness (1:2). What?? He marries a woman named Gomer and they have 3 children, 2 boys and a girl. As I read further into chapter 2, it talks about Israel being punished and then restored, and all I could see out of that scripture was how it reflected my own life with Christ. It talks about the unfaithfulness of the people and how they seek for happiness everywhere except from God, and it is all based on selfish desires. This part stuck out to me the most:
"Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I willl give her back her vineyards and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. In that day, declares the Lord, you will call me "my Husband"; you will no longer call me "my Master." Hosea 2:14-16
When I read that, it suddenly hit me that all this time, I have not looked at being a Christian so much as having a relationship with God as I have that it is a task. God desires me to be even more attached and committed to Him than I am to my husband. He doesn't want me to view Him as something that I make time for, rather He desires to be my time. I have not been willing to give Him that time. I have not been willing to let go of my control over myself and allow Him to take over. That all changed last night as I read through those first three chapters of Hosea and saw myself as the adulterous mother that had been unfaithful to her Husband. Do not mistake me here, I have not been unfaithful to Richard, but to God. I made a commitment to be a Christian years ago, but it has been a commitment that I have only met when it was convienient for me.
Father, I ask you to take control. Take my heart and make it yours. Forgive me for not being completely committed to a life for You and the plans You have for me. Help me to be the wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend that you have desired for me to be. Continue to keep me hungry for your Word and fill me with desire to live my life for you. I know that you are my Savior, the only way and the Ultimate Forgiver. I need forgiveness and I need to give forgiveness, and I know those things can only be reached through You. Amen.
I am going to continue to study through Hosea and will discuss what it gives to me on here over the next few weeks. I look forward to what God is about to do in my life, in my marriage and in my family.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Glued to the news...
This enormous tragedy in Japan has me glued to the TV. It seems there is constantly another factor coming into play making things more and more devastating. I can not fathom what it must be like to be experiencing this first hand and how these people's lives must be so turned upside down at this moment. How do you begin to plan to return to normal living and start over? Even more sad is knowing that most of these people do not know the love of Christ to lean on to get them through this tragedy. I wasn't sure if Buddhism was the major religious practice in Japan, so when I googled it, I saw this on Wikipedia...
Religion in JapanFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search
The Nachi Shrine is an ancient site of kami worshipMost Japanese people do not exclusively identify themselves as adherents of a single religion; rather, they incorporate elements of various religions in a syncretic fashion[1] known as shinbutsu shūgō (神仏習合, amalgamation of kami and buddhas?). Shinbutsu shūgō officially ended with the Shinto and Buddhism Separation Order of 1886, but continues in practice. Shinto and Japanese Buddhism are therefore best understood not as two completely separate and competing faiths, but rather as a single, rather complex religious system.[2]
Japan grants full religious freedom, allowing minority religions such as Christianity, Islam and Sikhism to be practiced. Figures that state 84% to 96% of Japanese adhere to Shinto and Buddhism are not based on self-identification but come primarily from birth records, following a longstanding practice of officially associating a family line with a local Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine.[3][4][5][6] About 70 percent of Japanese profess no religious membership,[7][8] according to Johnstone (1993:323), 84% of the Japanese claim no personal religion. And according to Demerath (2001:138), 64% do not believe in God, and 55% do not believe in Buddha.[9] Japanese streets are decorated on Tanabata, Obon and Christmas.
That is beyond sad to me. What do these people have to cling to in a time of tragedy, a time of happiness, a time of anything?? How thankful I am for the love of my God and the growing relationship I have with Him. I have obviously never experienced a tragedy such as this first hand, and hope I never have to, but I'd like to think that I would be able to face it knowing He was by my side.
There are those that are what I call "emotional Christians"..the ones that only cling to God when it's convienient for their needs or if there is a crisis they are facing. I used to be one of those people, so I know what that is like. Kind of like only going to your parents or family when you are in need and not really having a relationship with them otherwise. There is no true foundation to grow a relationship and know each other, and it becomes a one way street of take and no give. I was that person..I would cling to God when things were tough, when I was having an emotional crisis. I think the best example I have of this is when I had 2 miscarriages in the fall of 1999, very close together and both very early in term. I had not been seeking God's will for us and praying for His will for us to grow our family..I just knew I wanted a baby. I was so confused and hurt and, even ashamed, all these feelings you go through when you lose a pregnancy. I sought answers from God then..the usual "why is this happening" and "what have I done wrong"..."am I being punished for my sins?"
I most likely will never know why it happened, but I know I do not believe for a second that I nor Richard were being punished for anything. I do know that I grew as a Christian during that time. I realized that I was walking a one way street that only had a few vendor booths for my time with God and my relationship with Him was starving. I was a junk food Christian that wasn't feeding from the right places.
I don't know why this crisis in Japan is happening..some people say global warming, mother nature (I hate when people refer to that..it doesn't exist!!!), God's judgment...I just know that this could happen to any country..any place. I know where I would be going if faced with this tragedy...and am sad that there are so many that don't.
Religion in JapanFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, search
The Nachi Shrine is an ancient site of kami worshipMost Japanese people do not exclusively identify themselves as adherents of a single religion; rather, they incorporate elements of various religions in a syncretic fashion[1] known as shinbutsu shūgō (神仏習合, amalgamation of kami and buddhas?). Shinbutsu shūgō officially ended with the Shinto and Buddhism Separation Order of 1886, but continues in practice. Shinto and Japanese Buddhism are therefore best understood not as two completely separate and competing faiths, but rather as a single, rather complex religious system.[2]
Japan grants full religious freedom, allowing minority religions such as Christianity, Islam and Sikhism to be practiced. Figures that state 84% to 96% of Japanese adhere to Shinto and Buddhism are not based on self-identification but come primarily from birth records, following a longstanding practice of officially associating a family line with a local Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine.[3][4][5][6] About 70 percent of Japanese profess no religious membership,[7][8] according to Johnstone (1993:323), 84% of the Japanese claim no personal religion. And according to Demerath (2001:138), 64% do not believe in God, and 55% do not believe in Buddha.[9] Japanese streets are decorated on Tanabata, Obon and Christmas.
That is beyond sad to me. What do these people have to cling to in a time of tragedy, a time of happiness, a time of anything?? How thankful I am for the love of my God and the growing relationship I have with Him. I have obviously never experienced a tragedy such as this first hand, and hope I never have to, but I'd like to think that I would be able to face it knowing He was by my side.
There are those that are what I call "emotional Christians"..the ones that only cling to God when it's convienient for their needs or if there is a crisis they are facing. I used to be one of those people, so I know what that is like. Kind of like only going to your parents or family when you are in need and not really having a relationship with them otherwise. There is no true foundation to grow a relationship and know each other, and it becomes a one way street of take and no give. I was that person..I would cling to God when things were tough, when I was having an emotional crisis. I think the best example I have of this is when I had 2 miscarriages in the fall of 1999, very close together and both very early in term. I had not been seeking God's will for us and praying for His will for us to grow our family..I just knew I wanted a baby. I was so confused and hurt and, even ashamed, all these feelings you go through when you lose a pregnancy. I sought answers from God then..the usual "why is this happening" and "what have I done wrong"..."am I being punished for my sins?"
I most likely will never know why it happened, but I know I do not believe for a second that I nor Richard were being punished for anything. I do know that I grew as a Christian during that time. I realized that I was walking a one way street that only had a few vendor booths for my time with God and my relationship with Him was starving. I was a junk food Christian that wasn't feeding from the right places.
I don't know why this crisis in Japan is happening..some people say global warming, mother nature (I hate when people refer to that..it doesn't exist!!!), God's judgment...I just know that this could happen to any country..any place. I know where I would be going if faced with this tragedy...and am sad that there are so many that don't.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Gorgonzola Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Pesto Pasta
I have been on a cheese-stuffing kick this week! First the pork chops, now the chicken breasts...
For this recipe, I used:
3lb package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (not the flash frozen kind, you want the thicker ones)
1 tub of crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
Tomato Garlic Pesto Seasoning (I got mine from Tastefully Simple)
Tomato and Basil infused Olive Oil (also from Tastefully Simple)
Balsamic Vinegar
Preheat oven to 350.
Butterfly the chicken breasts. Place 1-2 inside a large ziploc bag at a time, and using a meat mallot, pound out until tenderized and thin. Sprinkle each one with the tomato garlic pesto seasoning and fill with 2 Tbsp each of the gorgonzola. Fold over and place into greased baking dish. (I spray mine with Pam.) Once all are filled and placed inside dish, drizzle with the olive oil and balsamic, careful not to do too much, about a Tablespoon of each on each chicken breast. Sprinkle with a little more of the tomato garlic pesto seasoning and place in oven. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until done.
For the Pesto Pasta:
1lb dried pasta, any kind, I used thin spaghetti because that's what I had.
1 7oz tub Buitoni Pesto with Basil
Cook pasta according to directions. Drain. Stir in a little pesto at a time, until it has the desired amount. Some people like a little pesto, some like a lot. I like some where in the middle.
Serve with a caeser salad and it's a meal! Here's a pic:
I think it needs something to make it look prettier...but not sure what. Tastes really good though! I think next time I would add some strips of sundried tomatoes on top of the chicken...
For this recipe, I used:
3lb package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (not the flash frozen kind, you want the thicker ones)
1 tub of crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
Tomato Garlic Pesto Seasoning (I got mine from Tastefully Simple)
Tomato and Basil infused Olive Oil (also from Tastefully Simple)
Balsamic Vinegar
Preheat oven to 350.
Butterfly the chicken breasts. Place 1-2 inside a large ziploc bag at a time, and using a meat mallot, pound out until tenderized and thin. Sprinkle each one with the tomato garlic pesto seasoning and fill with 2 Tbsp each of the gorgonzola. Fold over and place into greased baking dish. (I spray mine with Pam.) Once all are filled and placed inside dish, drizzle with the olive oil and balsamic, careful not to do too much, about a Tablespoon of each on each chicken breast. Sprinkle with a little more of the tomato garlic pesto seasoning and place in oven. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until done.
For the Pesto Pasta:
1lb dried pasta, any kind, I used thin spaghetti because that's what I had.
1 7oz tub Buitoni Pesto with Basil
Cook pasta according to directions. Drain. Stir in a little pesto at a time, until it has the desired amount. Some people like a little pesto, some like a lot. I like some where in the middle.
Serve with a caeser salad and it's a meal! Here's a pic:
Crawfish Stuffed Pork Chops Wrapped in Bacon....
1 family size pack porkchops
1 container garlic and herb Cooking Creme (by Philadelphia Cream Cheese)
1 lb crawfish tails, roughly chopped
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
1/2 bell pepper, finely chopped.
6-7 Strips of Applewood Smoked bacon
Preheat oven to 425.
I used a family sized pack of bone-in porkchops, although I think the boneless ones would be easier to prepare. Cut a slit in each one, making a pocket, careful not to cut all the way through. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In skillet, melt a couple tablespoons of butter and saute vegetables over med-hi heat, 3-5 minutes, until tender. Stir in cooking creme and crawfish tails. Remove from heat. Spoon filling into each porkchop, and wrap a piece of bacon around each. Place into large pyrex dish and bake 45 minutes, or until done. I served with rice and salad. Wish I'd had some french bread to go with it.
1 container garlic and herb Cooking Creme (by Philadelphia Cream Cheese)
1 lb crawfish tails, roughly chopped
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
1/2 bell pepper, finely chopped.
6-7 Strips of Applewood Smoked bacon
Preheat oven to 425.
I used a family sized pack of bone-in porkchops, although I think the boneless ones would be easier to prepare. Cut a slit in each one, making a pocket, careful not to cut all the way through. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In skillet, melt a couple tablespoons of butter and saute vegetables over med-hi heat, 3-5 minutes, until tender. Stir in cooking creme and crawfish tails. Remove from heat. Spoon filling into each porkchop, and wrap a piece of bacon around each. Place into large pyrex dish and bake 45 minutes, or until done. I served with rice and salad. Wish I'd had some french bread to go with it.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Apartment Living
We finally got all moved into our apartment this past weekend. Except for a few remaining boxes of clothes that belong to myself, we've gotten everything unpacked and in it's place for now. It was so sad to go back to the house Sunday and see it completely empty. Just a shell of a place that we've spent the last 3 years making a home. It sounded hollow and seemed to be mourning our departure. Then, I reminded myself that another young family was eagerly awaiting to make this place home, and enviously envisioned them enjoying this place for the next several years. I'm really happy for them, and am sure they will be blessed as a family as we were during our time there.
As for the apartment...wow. I had forgotten how much privacy you lack in these places. I'm pretty sure the family above us is harboring Clydesdales. Atleast 3 of them. We only have blinds on the windows and having a lit-up parking lot just outside at night is a little odd. We have to take Buster for regular walks now instead of just letting him out into the back yard. Although, he seems to be enjoying having free reign of the whole apartment. In our house, we kept him restricted to the kitchen, laundry room and master bedroom to protect the wood floors in the rest of the house. Here it's all carpet or tile, so no worries about doggy feet on the floors. The kids think they are super cool though because they know so many kids around us. I have to say, I've been pretty suprised at how people just let their little kids roam around unsupervised throughout the complex. They play in the parking lot! We had to have a strict rule meeting with our kids to explain that they would not be enjoying such freedoms while we are here. Their bedrooms are large and they both have monster sized closets, so they are happy with their extra space. It is a minor adjustment to live with for just a few months...and I'm sure we'll make it through.
As for the apartment...wow. I had forgotten how much privacy you lack in these places. I'm pretty sure the family above us is harboring Clydesdales. Atleast 3 of them. We only have blinds on the windows and having a lit-up parking lot just outside at night is a little odd. We have to take Buster for regular walks now instead of just letting him out into the back yard. Although, he seems to be enjoying having free reign of the whole apartment. In our house, we kept him restricted to the kitchen, laundry room and master bedroom to protect the wood floors in the rest of the house. Here it's all carpet or tile, so no worries about doggy feet on the floors. The kids think they are super cool though because they know so many kids around us. I have to say, I've been pretty suprised at how people just let their little kids roam around unsupervised throughout the complex. They play in the parking lot! We had to have a strict rule meeting with our kids to explain that they would not be enjoying such freedoms while we are here. Their bedrooms are large and they both have monster sized closets, so they are happy with their extra space. It is a minor adjustment to live with for just a few months...and I'm sure we'll make it through.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Valentine...
Got to see my Daddy this afternoon and he gave me and the kids our valentine. For as long as I can remember, Daddy has given my sisters and me those tiny heart shaped boxes with chocolates in them. Even when Richard and I lived in England, he shipped them to me. Valentine's just wouldn't be the same without them. Now he gives them to all of the kids, as well, I'm sure that Russell Stover is happy.
I got a sweet Valentine from my son, they painted picture frames at school and the teacher took their picture and printed it off and put it in there. My daughter's class used empty boxes of Sweettart Hearts and made a magnet picture frame with her picture in it. My husband and I gave them each a box of chocolates with a small teddy bear and a sweet card.
My dear husband gave me a gorgeous box of Godiva chocolates and a sweet card..the box of chocolates is almost empty. I got him a delicious red velvet cake from a local lady that makes cakes that are out of this world, and they are his favorite.
I love the love that is shared on Valentine's. Not the commercialized who-can-give-the-best-gift kind of Valentine, but the ones that come from the heart and take special time to show you that you mean something to someone.
I know that the most important gift of love I've received is my salvation. There are no gifts that can compare. That Gift is what has set the standard of love in my marriage and family, and friendships. What sets the standard for your love?
I got a sweet Valentine from my son, they painted picture frames at school and the teacher took their picture and printed it off and put it in there. My daughter's class used empty boxes of Sweettart Hearts and made a magnet picture frame with her picture in it. My husband and I gave them each a box of chocolates with a small teddy bear and a sweet card.
My dear husband gave me a gorgeous box of Godiva chocolates and a sweet card..the box of chocolates is almost empty. I got him a delicious red velvet cake from a local lady that makes cakes that are out of this world, and they are his favorite.
I love the love that is shared on Valentine's. Not the commercialized who-can-give-the-best-gift kind of Valentine, but the ones that come from the heart and take special time to show you that you mean something to someone.
I know that the most important gift of love I've received is my salvation. There are no gifts that can compare. That Gift is what has set the standard of love in my marriage and family, and friendships. What sets the standard for your love?
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Hungry!!!
For the last month or so, we have not been to church. For one reason or another, we haven't been able to go or we've just not gone. I haven't been able to make it the ladies Bible study since October that I have been going to for most of the last 2 years. I've been having my quiet time with God, but not on a regular basis. The result? For the last few days I have had an unmistakable growling of hunger in my heart for Jesus!!! Last fall, I felt the urge to facilitate (I won't say lead, because I relied greatly on the study materials provided to direct us through the study, and I don't feel mature enough in my knowledge of the Bible to lead anyone through a study) a study at my house, and had a small group of friends that did the Vicky Courtney study "5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Daughter". It was great! The other ladies Bible study that I often attend is one that my sister has been going to for years and had invited me to when we moved here, and for one reason or another, it has been impossible for me to get there the last few months. I'm finally at a point where I should be able to get back to it, and I'm waiting for their new study to begin. At any rate, I have definitely been missing my scheduled, dedicated time to spend with God and in fellowship with other Christians in study.
I can always see a reflection in my life of that absence of study, and I often wonder why it can be so easy to get out of the discipline. I get angry at myself for allowing things that are seemingly, at the time, legitimate reasons to keep me from my time with God. I'll push it to the side with the intention of getting to it later, and then before I know it, it's been a few days and I haven't even thought about it again. I find myself having a life so consumed with stuff and things and do-this and do-that, that my God is not my first priority. And I try to console myself and say it's ok, everyone goes through that...but it's like the thing my Mama used to say to us "I'm not worried about what the other kids are doing, I'm worried about what YOU are doing." I can't let myself measure my relationship with God by what I percieve other people's relationships to be with Him. I'm guilty of that. When I come face to face with God, He's only going to be worried about what I've done. Or not done. I can't starve my heart and mind of His word for me.
Revelations 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
I can always see a reflection in my life of that absence of study, and I often wonder why it can be so easy to get out of the discipline. I get angry at myself for allowing things that are seemingly, at the time, legitimate reasons to keep me from my time with God. I'll push it to the side with the intention of getting to it later, and then before I know it, it's been a few days and I haven't even thought about it again. I find myself having a life so consumed with stuff and things and do-this and do-that, that my God is not my first priority. And I try to console myself and say it's ok, everyone goes through that...but it's like the thing my Mama used to say to us "I'm not worried about what the other kids are doing, I'm worried about what YOU are doing." I can't let myself measure my relationship with God by what I percieve other people's relationships to be with Him. I'm guilty of that. When I come face to face with God, He's only going to be worried about what I've done. Or not done. I can't starve my heart and mind of His word for me.
Revelations 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Winter Blues
Well..this is my least favorite time of the year. Why??
1) Hunting season is over. What fun is cold weather if you can't go sit in your deer stand and shoot something?
2) Everything in my closet has shrunk 2 sizes. I hate when it does that.
3) I realize I need to be exercising, and it's too cold to do it outside.
4) I can't go hunt.
5) All I want to do is stay inside and cook and eat...See Reason #2, pretty sure these are directly related.
6) We have to move. This is only pertinent to this year (so far), but nonetheless, it is one of my reasons for now. We've spent the whole weekend so far packing boxes. My hands are so dry and not pretty from all that packing paper.
7) I can't go sit in my deerstand and have my quiet time that I love to have and wait for a deer to come out.
OK...guess I've pouted long enough. I honestly am not a pouty pants..just feeling a little melancholy today. I have so many blessings and things to be grateful for, and am one pan of brownies away from feeling better about things.
p.s. Bow Season starts in 8 months. :)
1) Hunting season is over. What fun is cold weather if you can't go sit in your deer stand and shoot something?
2) Everything in my closet has shrunk 2 sizes. I hate when it does that.
3) I realize I need to be exercising, and it's too cold to do it outside.
4) I can't go hunt.
5) All I want to do is stay inside and cook and eat...See Reason #2, pretty sure these are directly related.
6) We have to move. This is only pertinent to this year (so far), but nonetheless, it is one of my reasons for now. We've spent the whole weekend so far packing boxes. My hands are so dry and not pretty from all that packing paper.
7) I can't go sit in my deerstand and have my quiet time that I love to have and wait for a deer to come out.
OK...guess I've pouted long enough. I honestly am not a pouty pants..just feeling a little melancholy today. I have so many blessings and things to be grateful for, and am one pan of brownies away from feeling better about things.
p.s. Bow Season starts in 8 months. :)
Monday, January 10, 2011
Moving and Selling
It's been a while since I've blogged...so here's the latest...We found out recently that we will be relocating this July to Alabama. While I'm excited about the opportunity that is being provided to my husband for his career, I'm ever so saddened by the thought of leaving my family and this place that is home to me and has become home to my children. We have our house up for sale, and as I sit here writing this, I am waiting for our first potential buyers to come by to look at the house.
I loathe moving.
I hate unpacking.
I detest boxes and paper.
Most of all, I hate the thought of having to do it atleast 3 times within the next 12 months if we sell our house in the next few weeks. We will have to live in an apartment until we leave here, then we'll be in Alabama for only 10 months before we are sent to another assignment. Sigh. I just want to stay on my Mama's back porch for the next 40-60 years. This home is the first home Richard and I have bought, and it is the first place that has been ours to do with what we want. It was hard to put so much into it knowing that we would have to leave it again eventually, but it was still worth the while. My children have established roots here. They will consider Louisiana to be "home", where they "come from". They have had the opportunity to have priceless time with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins that they wouldn't have received had we been assigned anywhere else. I don't want to move. But I will. We will pack up and go and follow my husband and his career for atleast the next 8 years. And then we'll be back. Is it terrible to wish those 8 years to pass quickly? In 8 years, Brian will be 18 and Rachel will be 15. I will be...well, we won't go there. In 8 years, we'll be home again. We will have moved atleast 4 or 5 more times, packed and unpacked, travelled here and there...and then we'll be home again. Okay, I have to quit crying before these people get here to see my house or I might scare them away!!!
I loathe moving.
I hate unpacking.
I detest boxes and paper.
Most of all, I hate the thought of having to do it atleast 3 times within the next 12 months if we sell our house in the next few weeks. We will have to live in an apartment until we leave here, then we'll be in Alabama for only 10 months before we are sent to another assignment. Sigh. I just want to stay on my Mama's back porch for the next 40-60 years. This home is the first home Richard and I have bought, and it is the first place that has been ours to do with what we want. It was hard to put so much into it knowing that we would have to leave it again eventually, but it was still worth the while. My children have established roots here. They will consider Louisiana to be "home", where they "come from". They have had the opportunity to have priceless time with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins that they wouldn't have received had we been assigned anywhere else. I don't want to move. But I will. We will pack up and go and follow my husband and his career for atleast the next 8 years. And then we'll be back. Is it terrible to wish those 8 years to pass quickly? In 8 years, Brian will be 18 and Rachel will be 15. I will be...well, we won't go there. In 8 years, we'll be home again. We will have moved atleast 4 or 5 more times, packed and unpacked, travelled here and there...and then we'll be home again. Okay, I have to quit crying before these people get here to see my house or I might scare them away!!!
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