A Pair of Bartletts

A Week of Pearls

 

I know that the first thing that you think of when you think of getting a beautiful strand of pearls might be something like this definition:

pearl 

--noun

a smooth, rounded bead formed within the shells of certain mollusks and composed of the mineral aragonite or calcite in a matrix, deposited in concentric layers as a protective coating around an irritating foreign object: valued as a gem when lustrous and finely colored

However, this week, the pearls that the Lord has carefully stranded together and given to me are far more precious than the pearls from an oyster.  

 

 

pearl 

--noun

something precious or choice; the finest example of anything (pearls of wisdom)

There has been so much going on in my life and in the lives of everyone in my family lately that it has seemed, at times, as if we were all in a tailspin.  But the Lord has been gently reminding me from almost every way that I turn of these verses:

Matthew 6

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  ²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 

 

With my husband recovering from a hip surgery, my sister-in-love undergoing treatment for cancer, my father-in-love being discharged from the hospital and with my recent ruptured disc, it has been very hard lately to keep a tight grasp on the many strands of pearls that the Lord has gifted me with.  And yes, when it rains it pours....BUT He is so faithful.  And these verses are SO relevant.  It's been so amazing to me that God can literally use as many people as He chooses to drill home passages of scripture.  I have had at least five unrelated sources remind me of these scriptures in the last few weeks.  Like I said, He is faithful.  And if you ever forget that He is faithful, just re-read these scriptures.  

And while we're talking about pearls, isn't it just like the Lord to use things that can be a source of irritation and turn them into beautiful pearls that we can add to the strands of our hearts?  That's how my God operates.  He takes the grit that irritates us to no end and He produces precious gems that we can wear for a lifetime...and better yet, for all of eternity.

 

Spatchcocked Chicken 2 The Finished Product (Asian Style)

Voilà!  May I present my first attempt at Spatchcocked chicken!

 

And might I add, it was SO tender and SO juicy! The Asian flavors were SO yummy!  This is a must try!  I also cut up two sweet yellow onions and cooked them around the chicken.   

 

Since the chicken cooks at a high temp (see "Spatchcocked Chicken 1"), the onions caramelized beautifully and were SO sweet!

 

I removed the onions after roasting the chicken and mixed them in a bowl with these roasted potatoes (roasted with olive oil, sea salt and rosemary).  It made a wonderful side dish!  

We thoroughly enjoyed this new method for roasting chicken, and will MOST certainly be trying it again soon.  We are also going to use this method of prepping the chicken the next time that we grill out.  This method is great for grilling!

I hope that you will try it too!  Please let me know if you do...and by all means, please send me your pictures!

What new methods are you trying in your kitchen?

 

Spatchcocked Chicken 1 (Asian Style)

spatch·cock

 

–noun

1.

a fowl that has been dressed and split open for grilling.

–verb (used with object)

2.

to prepare and roast (a fowl) in this manner.

When I first read about the spatchcock method of chicken preparation, I'll have to say that I was a bit overwhelmingly intimidated.  After all, it looked like a method that only the incredible Julia Child or maybe Alton Brown could pull off.  I first read about it in a magazine and then began to look around on the internet.  Apparently, it was a consensus. All I should need would be the chicken (of course) and a pair of poultry shears.  Why is it that the things that are really the most simple can really seem the most difficult?

At any rate, I was determined to climb what I thought was a culinary mountain. Mountain?  Well, it was more like a mole hill.  I will tell you though, you must have a very strong pair of poultry shears that will easily cut through bone.  If you have that (and the chicken...don't forget the chicken!), then you're all set.  As for the flavor profile that you choose for the roasting, the possibilities are absolutely endless.  I happen to be using an Asian flavor in my bird, but you may like something as simple as some salt, pepper and garlic.   Or, you may like some white wine, thyme and rosemary....or even just a simple Italian dressing marinade.  Like I said, the possibilities are ENDLESS!

 

Okay...onward and upward!  This post is going to show you the method itself.  I will be cooking my Asian marinated spatchcocked chicken tomorrow evening.  So, make sure and check back here on Tuesday to see the pictures of how it turned out!

SPATCHCOCKED CHICKEN

1.  Using a 3-4 pound chicken, turn the chicken breast side down on the work surface.  When looking down at the chicken, the wings should be at the top and the legs should be at the bottom.

2.  Use your fingers to trace the backbone up and down the bird so that you know where you will be cutting.  Start on one side of the backbone and cut up and away from you straight to the top of the chicken.  Then take the shears and place them on the other side of the backbone and do likewise.  (Sorry, I had cut the chicken before I realized I had not taken a pic of this step, but you'll see the outcome below)

3.  Here is the finished product.  You can see the size of the backbone that was cut out at the bottom of the picture.  The legs should lie down flat now.

4.  Now when you turn the bird over, you should be able to press everything down flat.  At this point, your bird is ready for whatever flavor profile your little heart may desire.   

5.  Roast in your desired dish in a preheated 500° oven for 30 minutes (yes, I said 30 minutes!), or until the internal temperature is 165° on an instant read thermometer (in the thickest part of the thigh) and the juices run clear.  

When you get ready to roast, you can choose to put vegetables around it, or you may choose to do the chicken by itself.  Whatever way that you choose, I'm sure that it will be delicious.  And please, by all means let me know if you try this method and let me know what flavor profile that you chose.  I would love to post some of the results!  And send pictures too!  

For now, my method was an Asian marinade.  As I type, my freshly spatchcocked little bird is resting for the night in a gallon sized zip lock bag, swimming in some mighty yummy Asian flavors!

JEN'S YUMMY ASIAN MARINADE

1/4 cup extra light olive oil

1/8 cup soy sauce

1/8 cup rice wine vinegar

1 Tbsp. Hoisin sauce

2 tsp freshly grated ginger root

Wisk the above ingredients together thoroughly.  Salt and pepper the chicken and place in a gallon sized zip lock freezer bag.  Pour the marinade over the chicken.  Press the extra air out of the bag and seal.  Squish the chicken around in the bag and make sure that the marinade has covered all of the pieces.  Marinate at least 2 hours or overnight. Cook using the method above.  

See you back here on Tuesday!

 

Hello Kitty Band-aids and Sticky Sucker Sticks

 

Well, did I get your attention with the title of the post?  I'm just glad that you stopped by.  I have been on somewhat of a hiatus from blogging the last couple of weeks, but with good reason.  As most of you know, my sweet husband underwent another hip replacement, this time being his left hip.  And the day before his surgery, my precious sister-in-love, Julie, had a colonoscopy and was then diagnosed with colon cancer three days after Rob's surgery.  Our lives have been forever changed in the last month.  But our God, in His divine providence, has met every need of every family member, especially Rob and Julie.  

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is GOOD! For His mercies ENDURE forever. Psalm 118:29 

I get excited just reading that verse of scripture!  But let me tell you, it's honestly only in the last few days that I can actually say that I'm "excited" about anything.  God has been so faithful to us and I know that He will never leave or forsake me or my family.  

Speaking of God's goodness, I have been blessed by being able to get away from work for a few days so that I could travel to my brother's house to be with him and Julie and the four children.  You have to understand, when I come for visits, I'm no longer my regular self...I am "Sissy" when I'm with the kids.  It was the sweetest thing to pull into the driveway this past Friday and see a bunch of little eyes peeking out from the upstairs blinds.  It was even sweeter to come up the front steps and hear a parade of excited short people clomping down the steps while shouting a chorus of "Sissy's HERE! "Sissy's HERE!"  I know that I'm prejudiced but they are the sweetest four kids on the planet.  I love them as if they were my own...there isn't anything that I wouldn't do for them.  

Here's where I let you in on the title of the post.  A five hour drive to most people may be grueling.  But to me, it's the sweetest five hours I could ever spend  knowing that when I get into town, I can fix bo-bo's with Hello Kitty Band-Aids, I can enjoy sweet little giggles when I share a popsicle with my 12 month old niece, and I can have wound up little boys use my purse as the closest "trashcan" for their sticky sucker sticks (say that 5 times in a row really fast).  

Like I've said, my family has had some really major things happen to us lately.  But they are not "chance" happenings...they are not "bad karma", as the world would have you believe.  In fact, they are trials that the Lord is using in all of our lives.  And no one will receive any glory for any outcome but our Lord.  He will be glorified in every outcome. 

My brother preached a very strong message yesterday regarding what it means to suffer together and God's perspective on suffering. The message was titled "Jesus Answers Our Worry" and it was out of Matthew 6:24-34 (click the link in this paragraph if you would like to listen to the sermon). The message was a much needed reminder that worry is not of the Lord. It reminded me that God is never surprised or astonished. He has an absolutely perfect plan.

"Our suffering is in the present, our anxiety is in what the future holds and our theology is caught up somewhere in the middle." ~Dr. Paul S. Lamey

My spirit was so incredibly challenged with this message. Paul asked "do you really want to be beyond the headlights of God's providence?" My answer to that today was an affirmative "no". If you had asked me this question a few weeks ago, I really can't be certain what my answer would have been. Well, I'll tell you...within God's providence is where I want to remain. There were so many "nuggets" in this message that I can't possibly list them all. And if I knew that you could read and understand my notes, I would post them here for you. Since I can't do that, I would highly encourage you to listen to the sermon.  I pray you would be as richly blessed as I was.

Well, I've rambled enough.  There has just been so much going on...I have so much to blog!  Thank you to those who are faithful readers.  Thank you to each of you who have vowed to pray for our sweet family.  

I'll leave you with the scriptures that I have committed to memory many years ago but that have become SO relevant to the circumstances that God is allowing us to experience.  I praise Him for His Holy word.  He is real and He is always on time.  

Philippians 4

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 
⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

 

Memory Monday--I Peter 2:24

I find this verse more relevant now than ever in my life and on behalf of the lives of my family.  I cannot imagine what my Lord suffered on Calvary's cross for my sin.  But I am thankful that those stripes brought healing both physical and spiritual for me and for those who believe in Him and have had true repentance in their lives.   

1 Peter 2:24

 ²⁴He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 

 

Marriage Monday--A Week In Our Lives

 

 

First of all, thank you so much for reading along (or contributing, if you are a MM contributor) with Marriage Monday and a HUGE thank you to our precious friend, E-Mom C H R Y S A L I S  for being our most gracious hostess!   

Well, this month is a little different regarding our topic.  Actually, there is no designated topic this month...we're keeping it simple in order that everyone is able to spend the weekend (and days leading up to it) in preparation for Resurrection Sunday.  In light of that, it's pretty simple for me what to write about...just that...the days leading up to Resurrection Sunday.  

I penned some words in the last few days regarding the "goings on" in my family, specifically with my husband and my sister-in-love (I love that sound much better than "in law"...thanks to my sweet bloggy sister, Trish at A Joyful Heart.  She has a "mother-in-love"!).  If you haven't read my post titled "Breaking the Silence & Some Other Urgent Prayer Needs", you might want to read that first so that the rest of this post will make better sense.  At any rate, I have been doing so much reflection in the last few days with regard to Rob's hip surgery on Friday before last and with my sister-in-love's colon cancer diagnosis the day before his surgery.  

Needless to say, there has been an incredibly HUGE range of emotions that has manifested in my life (and the lives of others) since last week.  Rob's surgery had been scheduled for a good bit of time, but in the scheduling, never would we dream that our sweet Julie would receive the news that she did Thursday before last.  Rob and I had prayed for many weeks leading up to his surgery.  We prayed that it would be just like his right hip replacement in May of '08....an absolute breeze.  We prayed that recovery would be quick and that no one would be inconvenienced any more than necessary.

WOW...were our prayers ever so shallow.  It's amazing to me still how we didn't know that the whole time that we were praying, this nasty thing called "cancer" was growing inside our sweet Julie's body.  My first reaction in my heart was "Lord, if only I had known, I could have prayed more, I could have prepared, I could have been on guard and ready to receive this news".  

Funny, why do we wait until  we're in the midst of a crisis to have the gall, the absolute nerve, to ask the Lord...the King of Kings, the one who died on a miserable cross to save our sins....to have given us more of a "warning" prior to receiving bad news?  

What I do know is that in James 5:16, the Lord has already given us everything we need to know about where our prayer life should be:

"Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

It wasn't that I had not prayed before receiving this news.  But I'll tell you, the best litmus test to tell you how "fervent" that you are is to have news like what our family received to hit you from left field.  I love talking to the Lord.  I love praying.  Up until Thursday, March 25, 2010, I considered my prayer life to be "pretty good" by my standards.  That's the problem....my standard is not the Lord's standard.  I want to have my prayers be a part of the "avails much" part of the text above.  I want to be so deeply into my prayer and communion with the Lord that my response turns from "Why Lord...Oh, woe is me Lord" to "What next Lord? Show me Your will Lord!".  

Rob's Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis attacks and diagnosis didn't catch our great God by surprise in 1979.  Nor was He astonished that our sweet Julie would come to face the trial of cancer.  But He did promise in Philippians 4:13 that:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Our God is great and our God is good.  He never sleeps or slumbers.  He IS going to see my sweet husband through recovery and healing in his hips.  He IS going to see our sweet Julie through treatment and surgery for colon cancer.  He IS the same yesterday, today and forever.  

I heard some of the sweetest words the other day that I think I've ever heard in my marriage.  "Jen, I want to pray more than I ever have....and there is nothing in the world that I wouldn't do for this family". Thank you Lord for a praying husband.   Thank you Lord for giving Rob and I the same prompting by the Holy Spirit.  Thank you Lord for showing us the areas of our prayer life that need to be strengthened like a mighty fort against any attack of the Enemy or any bad news that may come to our family.  

Forever in His service,

 

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He's ALIVE!

Luke 24

He Is Risen

 ¹ Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them,^[a]came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. ² But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. ³ Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ And it happened, as they were greatly^[b] perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. ⁵ Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, ⁷ saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”

⁸ And they remembered His words. ⁹ Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the otherwomen with them, who told these things to the apostles. ¹¹ And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. ¹² But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying^[c] by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened. 

From my family to yours, I hope that you have a wonderful Resurrection Sunday!  Christ is ALIVE and on HIS THRONE!

 

All Of Our Eggs In One Basket

 

Strawberry Pretzel Salad (A light and refreshing Easter dessert)

We are keeping it light and easy for Easter dinner on Sunday.  This salad has been a long time favorite of mine.  It's called a salad, but it's really more of a dessert, but it makes me feel better to still call it a "salad"!  I hope that you will give it a try.  The first time I heard about it, my first reaction was "strawberries and pretzels? what kind of salad is that?"  But I promise you...it's got a wonderfully unique flavor.  The sugar that is cooked with the salty pretzels and then topped with all of that strawberry and cream cheese yumminess (yes, it's a word).....it's divine!

Let me know how you like it!

STRAWBERRY PRETZEL SALAD

1 1/2 c. crushed pretzels
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. melted butter
1 (6 oz.) box strawberry Jell-o
2 c. boiling water
1 (16 oz.) frozen strawberries
1 (9 oz.) Cool Whip
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese
1 c. sugar

Crush pretzels, not into a fine powder, but just crush them.  You still want to recognize that there are pretzels in the crust.  . Mix together pretzels, 1/2 cup sugar and butter. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes in a 9" x 13" pan. Beat together the Cool Whip, cream cheese and 1 cup of sugar. Spread onto the TOTALLY cooled crust. Add boiling water into Jello. When the Jell-o is thoroughly mixed and free of any powder, add strawberries. Place Jello in refrigerator until it becomes partially gelled. Place on top of the cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate covered with Saran Wrap. You can place toothpicks around the dish so that the plastic wrap doesn't stick to the top of the pretty dish.

 

Breaking the Silence & Some Urgent Prayer Needs

It has been quite a few days since I've posted.  I truly have missed it, but honestly, my heart just has been occupied on some other very important things.  First, my husband has been scheduled for the last few weeks for a total left hip replacement, which was scheduled for last Friday (3/26).  We were nervous, but not nearly as nervous as we were two years ago when he had the right hip replaced in May of '08.  We have anxiously awaited the surgery for the last 2-3 months...as it got closer, all we could think about was how great it would be to get it done, get it behind us and sail through recovery. 

The day before surgery was like any other.  I went to work, Rob stayed home resting due to the impending surgery and life seemed to be somewhat "normal".  I left work early that day so that I could hurriedly get home and finish the final preparations for surgery and his stay at the hospital.  I had LOADS of washing to do and things to pack for, you see, recovery was to take place at my parents house since they live in a one story house and we are in a two story.  

I got home last Thursday, kissed Rob, gave a pat on the head to our little dachshund (Buddy), and I was off to the laundry races.  Not long after I got my clothes changed and the first load of laundry rounded up, the phone rang.  Rob, who loves our speaker phone, answered since I was busy.  I was at the top of the stairs, so I was able to hear that it was my Mom calling.  You know how you can just hear that the tone of someone's voice just doesn't sound right?  Well, I could immediately tell that something was really wrong.  You see, that day, my sister-in-love (Julie, married to my brother, Paul) was scheduled to have a colonoscopy that day (she had noticed in the days prior that there was the presence of some bleeding, so for precaution, the doctor decided to do the test).

Well, what we all thought was going to be routine and what would turn out to be nothing....wasn't.  There was a "mass".  The doctor immediately did a biopsy,  but the results would not be back until Tuesday....Tuesday....that was five days away!  So, with heavy and weary hearts, Rob and I pressed on, went through the surgery on Friday and then spent the rest of the weekend praying, crying, and pleading to the Lord...the King of Kings.  

Rob was discharged from the hospital and came home on Monday to Mom and Dad's house.  Again, more silence, more praying...Tuesday would be tomorrow.    The phone rang on Tuesday.  It was my brother.   What was our worst fear was now reality. Cancer.  Our sweet Julie...cancer.  Thirty six years old, mother of the year to my two nieces and two nephews, wife of the year to my baby brother.....cancer.  CANCER!  A mass.  A concerned doctor....cancer....not Julie.  No Lord...not Julie.  Lord, pick me, don't pick Julie.  Lord, not our family.  Lord, the children...Lord, they are just 7, 5, 3 and 11 months!  Lord, my sweet brother! Lord....do anything...just not this Lord!  I pleaded, I begged...no God...not Julie. 

And then, the Lord delivered overflowing measures of peace.  Not just to me and to the others, but to whom it mattered to the very most....to Julie.  She has served the Lord with gladness for many many years.  She has the true definition of a meek and gentle spirit.  She leads and nurtures her children with grace.  She is devoted to caring for my brother and for their home.  She is a Proverbs 31 woman, from beginning to end.  

Our journey into the world of cancer is fairly new.  We have all known people who have had it, but never as close to home as our sweet Julie.  Amazingly, the Lord has brought thousands of people to their knees in prayer for our sweet Julie.  I am not kidding.  I ran the numbers.  By the time that we got the word out to the hundreds of people that we knew among churches, Facebook, email, my brother's blog (Expository Thoughts) etc., the numbers literally added up exponentially.  Not only were the numbers evident in my calculations, but they came to light as Paul and Julie were literally FLOODED with emails and Facebook messages by the hundreds.  Then, Paul established a page for Julie on Caring Bridge so that the masses could keep up with her story and her progress.  (If you would like to read and follow, you can click on this link: Caring Bridge: Julie Lamey's story).  It has truly been amazing how many people have had their friends, family and entire churches praying for Julie, just since Tuesday of this week.  God has poured love overflowing over our entire family, especially Julie and Paul.  

As you go through your day to day routine, I would ask that you too would add our sweet Julie to your prayer list.  Please also remember my sweet nephews and nieces and my precious brother in your prayers.  We covet every single prayer offered on her behalf. As you pray, I will leave you with these photos below that I have made into a prayer card of sorts.  I included some of the Proverbs 31 verses on the card, since our sweet Julie is a beautiful example to our family and to everyone that she comes in contact with of the image of a Proverbs 31 woman. 

 

I pray that you will be blessed and encouraged through her story.  Please feel free to leave her any encouragement that you are lead to leave for her on the Caring Bridge site.  She and Paul are reading each and every one and rejoicing over each shred of encouragement and prayer.  

May you and your families have a truly reflective and refreshing Resurrection weekend.  

HE'S ALIVE....HE'S ALIVE.  HE'S ALIVE AND I'M FORGIVEN, HEAVEN'S GATES ARE OPEN WIDE....HE'S ALIVE!

 

  

Down His Path

Proverbs 3 (New King James Version)

Proverbs 3

       ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart, 

      And lean not on your own understanding; 

       ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, 

      And He shall direct^[a] your paths. 

       ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; 

      Fear the LORD and depart from evil. 

       ⁸ It will be health to your flesh,^[b]

      And strength^[c] to your bones. 

As Friday gets closer, I can't help but ponder on the verses above.  We are back to where we were two years ago, but this time, we are so much wiser.  On Friday, my dear sweet husband will have surgery to replace his left hip.  In 2008 he began the first of two life transforming surgeries when he had his right hip replaced.  As a child, he was tormented with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which led to adult arthritis issues that flared up severely in 2008.  Fortunately, the Lord led us to an INCREDIBLE physician who did a fantastic job in 2008 with the first surgery.  On Friday, we will finally close the gap when Rob has the left hip replaced, which will rid him of arthritis in his hips for good!  He still has the disease in other joints, but by having prosthetic hips, he will feel like a million dollars.  The first one was a total and complete success.  It was the most amazing thing to watch him wake up pain free in the right hip!! And as of Friday, he will once again wake up and will be HEALED...PRAISE GOD!   

For those of you who went on this journey with us before....we will never be able to thank you enough for all of the prayers and kind things that you did for us during that time.  And now, we will once again covet every single solitary prayer that you offer on Rob's behalf.  We are so blessed to have such incredible family and friends who intervene in prayer for us.  I will keep everyone posted as we once again, head down the path to total recovery.  We send much love and many thanks to all of you....you all know who you are!

Much love and many many thanks,

 

Worship of God Banned In Arizona?

The town of Gilbert, Arizona must have lots of extra tax money to throw away on legal fees. What other reason could there be for their blatantly unconstitutional ruling banning all church meetings in homes? The Alliance Defense Fund is on the case:

via www.crosstalkblog.com

This has to be on the top ten of the most disgusting (and the saddest) stories that I have ever read. How is it that "One Nation UNDER God" has been moved to a nation that is "banning" God at every turn. This is the most shameful thing--society has become so incredibly liberal that they see nothing wrong in not only breaking the constitution but in the process are trying to snuff out every sign of God that they can get their sick hands around. What they have failed to realize is that no matter what man does to stop them, GOD is ABLE. GOD will PREVAIL. GOD will RECEIVE THE GLORY.

Matthew 18:20 (New King James Version)

20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Romans 14:10-13 (New King James Version)

0 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.[c] 11 For it is written:

“ As I live, says the LORD,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”[d]

12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

 

The Wash-A-Teria

 I don't think that I have ever been "happy" to do laundry....until today, at 4:48 pm when those precious delivery men from Best Buy came and hauled off my elderly and extremely decrepit washer and dryer and replaced them with these shiny new bee-eauties!  I think I've washed 5 loads of clothes since they pulled out of the driveway!  I never really realized just how old my pair had gotten until the new ones were installed.  This post is not really to tell you all of that as much as it is to say "THANK YOU" to my precious husband for blessing me with these...and in the nick of time, before the others keeled over dead.   But ultimately, that blessing was from the Lord, and we are both thankful for His constant provision.

If you need me....I'll be in the laundry room!

James 1:17 (New King James Version)

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

 

Don't Worry--Be Happy

Luke 12 (New King James Version)

Do Not Worry

²² Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. ²³ Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. ²⁴Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? ²⁵ And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁶ If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ²⁸ If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? 

²⁹ “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. ³⁰ For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. ³¹ But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things^[c] shall be added to you. 

³² “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

 

Heather Messick: Victoria Is 2!!!

 

 You have done so many things this year that I am so proud of. You began walking, started jibber-jabbering (although we are still waiting on real words to come) and have done tons of things that have amazed your therapists! You are a miracle living right in front of our eyes!

via messickmom.blogspot.com

I praise God today for the little life of sweet Victoria Jayne. She is the daughter of two precious friends...and what a miracle that she is. Odds were stacked so hight that they could not see the light of day. But God, in His INFINITE wisdom, brought a team of doctors and surgeons into Victoria's life that HE used to save her life so that she could bless the lives of countless others. If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you will remember her Mom, Heather Messick, who joined us for "Bee My Guest" as a guest author this past summer.

Victoria is truly a gift from the Lord...and you will never see a smile light up a room (and your heart) like the smile of this little one.

Praise you Lord for Victoria Jayne! Rob and I celebrate with her parents (and her big sisters) on this monumental day!

 

Beautiful Blogger Award

 

I was so surprised (and so humbled) to receive a "Beautiful Blogger Award" from someone that I consider to be a beautiful woman of God.  Her name is Marilyn, but around the blogosphere, we call her "E-Mom".  She has incredible insight, unbelievable biblical wisdom and is always full of encouragement.  The funny thing is that most of us have never met her face to face.  As a matter of fact, she and I live on opposite ends (and corners) of these great United States of America.  But even with that many miles between us, we are kindred spirits.  We love and worship the same Savior Jesus Christ, which makes us more than bloggers...it makes us sisters in Christ.  I appreciate her insightful posts....go check them out at CHRYSALIS.   And when she's not at her blog doing some fantastic writing, you can find her over at Susannah's (Kitchen) Aprons showing off some incredible vintage aprons.  All around, she's just a sweetie.  Thanks for the award E-Mom....back atcha!

As part of the award, I believe that we are supposed to pass it on to seven people that we believe are deserving of the award and additionally, are to tell seven things about ourselves.  So, for my beautiful blogger nominees, I would like to recognize the following precious ladies:

1. Lynne at Spiritually Unequal Marriage
2. Monica at The Homespun Heart
3. Aunt Ruthie at Sugar Pie Farmhouse
4. Karen at Living Life In Truth & Grace
5. Laurel at From My Heart To Yours
6. Susan at Forever His
7. Melissa Marie at Huckleberry Prairie

I hope that you will take the time to visit some of these great ladies.  I promise, you will take something away that you didn't have before.  They all have something different that they bring to the kitchen table, but they all have a common thread of our Lord in their lives.  

As for me, it's hard to name seven things about myself, but here it goes:

• I'm thankful for salvation through my Lord, Jesus Christ
• I have an incredible husband who loves the Lord and is the leader of our home
• I love anything and everything pink
• I should have been named Ellie Mae Clampett, because I love "critters" great and small
• I'm always wanting to go deeper in my Christian walk...deeper deeper and deeper with God
• I have an incredible family and an incredible church home
• I adore adore adore music

Who are the beautiful bloggers in your life?

 

Price Matching Payday

 

After church, Rob and I made our regular Sunday visit to Mom and Dad's for some lunch (which by the way was fantastic...thanks Mom!).   When we were through with lunch, my Mom and I decided to make a run over to the Eastern Shore to go to Sams, Barnes & Noble and Shoe Station.  It just so happened that prior to leaving for our little outing,  I picked up the sales ads from the paper.  While thumbing though the ads, I noticed a tiny little remark in the Best Buy ad that said "15% off of all steam washers and dryers".  As my late Aunt Rhetta would have said, "Well honey hush!"  Guess what?  The ones that I purchased 2 weeks ago....well they have the steam functions, so that means cash back for me!  WA-HOO!  I'm singing the praises of Best Buy's price matching policy!  I just got $277.95 back today!  You heard me.....$277.95!!!!!!!!!!!!  All I had to do was take in my receipt and they pulled it right up and immediately credited my bank card for the difference.  I didn't even have to take my bank card out!  

I have to say a special thank you to the sales associate whose last words to me after the sales transaction were to "watch every Sunday ad for the next 30 days"!  She was right!  Best Buy rocks!  

 

 

 
 

Poundcake Muffins

Okay....pay close attention.  I'm going to give you the instructions on these really fast.  Go to the baking aisle of the grocery store.  Next, find the muffin mixes, specifically those named after a woman named "Martha".  Locate the ones that say "poundcake" and get 2 bags.  Now go home.

Next, once you have gotten home, take out a mixing bowl.  Put both packages into the bowl and add one cup of milk (I use organic milk, but who cares).  Mix thoroughly but don't over mix.  (For an added touch, sprinkle a little demerara sugar, or regular sugar on top before baking...just to make them "truly" homemade).  Two packages will make 5-6 jumbo muffins and about a dozen regular sized muffins.  The ones in the picture are out of a jumbo muffin tin.

These are certainly not my momma's poundcake, but let me tell you one thing....they will "do" in a pinch.  If you don't want to make the muffins, you can mix the two packages the same way and just pour the whole thing in a loaf pan....I won't tell the people that you work with that you really didn't make it from scratch....it will be our little secret!

I promise~~~~~

   

 

Marriage Monday--Prayer in Marriage

 

I'll have to say that when I read what the topic was going to be for today's Marriage Monday, I developed a very quick case of "writer's block".  Why is it so incredibly hard to write about praying with your husband?  Block or no block, it's actually a topic that my husband and I have been discussing lately, even before the topic was decided.  We both agreed that want to step outside the bounds of our own prayer life and pray more together.  As a matter of fact, my husband is the one who brought it up.  That may not seem to be such an extraordinary thing by someone in the "world", but to me it's HUGE!  It's biblical, and here's why:

Ephesians 5:23 

"For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church, his body, of which, He is the Savior." (NIV)

"For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body." (NKJV)

"Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ.  The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to His church, not by domineering but by cherishing.  So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands." (The Message) (v 22-24)

I love that my husband is the leader of our home.  I love that he loves me like Christ loves the church and that as a result, he has the desire to want to pray with me.  Now with that said, we are not perfect, nor do we live in a perfect world.  It would be unrealistic to think that we would pray together over every single solitary thing and at just the right time, each time.  But what I do know is that God put the desire in both of us to serve Him.  Further, He put the desire in my husband to love me as Christ loved the church and He put the desire in both of us to want to spend time together in prayer and devotion.  The expectations here do not need to become so unrealistic that we set ourselves up to fail.  However, we need to be realistic, pray together when we are led to and over whatever the Lord puts on our hearts,and when we are able to.  When we are not praying together, then we can always do what we are instructed to do for each other as it's written in Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ".  

 

 

In addition to The Lord giving us the incredible ability to commune with Him intimately through prayer in our own prayer closets, He has promised us in Matthew 18:20 that "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." What an incredible promise, and probably one of the ones that I love more than anything.  I want to be where my Lord is.  I want to be where my husband is also.  What better place than to be with them together!

I pray that those reading this would also know an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.  If you are not sure if you have a relationship with Jesus as your Savior and would like to know more about the free gift of salvation, you can read more about that here.  

And, if you would like to read other great Marriage Monday articles, you can find more on my dear friend "E-Mom's" website at C H R Y S A L I S.  

Want this button?

 

The Results Are In--BRAVOS!

 Well folks, the results are in.  It's unanimous.  It's done.  I am the proud owner of a Maytag Bravos series washer and dryer!  Thank you to those who emailed me your suggestions and feedback when I posted recently regarding my search!  I had narrowed the search down to the Whirlpool Cabrio series and the Maytag Bravos series.  The only thing that won me over in the end was that the Bravos had steam settings and the Cabrio didn't.  Other than that, they were relatively similar in function and in price.  And I'll be able to see my laundry swishing and tumbling about through the super cool glass lid and door.  The washer doesn't have an agitator, which is great.  It's actually works just like a front loader, except it loads from the top.  And even better, it's high efficiency, so we'll reap some benefit as well with reduced energy costs.  Unfortunately though, they are back ordered and my set won't be in until at least the 18th....so it's the waiting game now.  I am about to stand on my head for them to get here, but I've waited this long to replace the old ones, so what's a few more days?  And can I tell you, they were SO easy to work with at Best Buy!  Not only will they deliver the entire set, washer and dryer, for the low low price of $29.99, but they are going to haul off my old ones for FREE!   I'm SO excited! 

 

 

 If you need me after the 18th of March, I'll be washing...and drying....and steaming....and washing....and drying....and steaming......but I assure you, it will be with a smile on my face!  

 

I Finally Found My Niche....I Mean nook

Sheer...

Reading...

BLISS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Susanna!

"Give God the praise for any well spent day!"

~~Susanna Wesley

 

Saved Alone

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way....

"Saved Alone".  Those are the words sent back by Mrs. Horatio Spafford in a telegram to her husband in the aftermath of losing her four daughters in a shipwreck when the S. S. Ville du Harve was struck by the English vessel Loch Earn.   I'm sure that as Mr. Spafford read those chilling words that he was immediately overcome with the most horrific grief imaginable.  He was supposed to have been on that trip.  At the last minute, an urgent business matter kept him in Chicago while his family left to vacation in Europe.  Never would he dream that as he waved his goodbyes to his family that only his wife would return.  

But, God was still sovereign.  God still had a plan for the Spaffords.  It was in the midst of the grief that Mr. Spafford penned the words of a song that had one message...."peace".  As a result of this horrible tragedy, one of the greatest songs was anointed by the Lord to rise up out of the grief and despair.  The Lord gives us peace beyond our understanding (Philipians 4:6-7).  It was then that "It Is Well With My Soul"  was penned.  

I don't know why (other that it's just a God thing), but I literally woke up this morning with this song in my mind.  I think it's so incredible how the Lord can gently infuse something into our thoughts so that we wake up with it on our hearts and in our minds.  

I pray that it is "WELL" with your soul this morning!

It Is Well With My Soul

Horatio Spafford

1. 1. 1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
       
   
   
   1. 1. When sorrows like sea billows roll;
       
   
   
   1. 1. Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
       
   
   
   1. 1. It is well, it is well, with my soul.
       
   
   

   • 1. • 1. • Refrain:
              
     
     
     1. • 1. • It is well, with my soul,
              
     
     
     1. • 1. • It is well, it is well, with my soul.
              
     
     

2. 1. 1. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
       
   
   
   1. 1. Let this blest assurance control,
       
   
   
   1. 1. That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
       
   
   
   1. 1. And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
       
   
   

3. 1. 1. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
       
   
   
   1. 1. My sin, not in part but the whole,
       
   
   
   1. 1. Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
       
   
   
   1. 1. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
       
   
   

4. 1. 1. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
       
   
   
   1. 1. If Jordan above me shall roll,
       
   
   
   1. 1. No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
       
   
   
   1. 1. Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
       
   
   

5. 1. 1. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
       
   
   
   1. 1. The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
       
   
   
   1. 1. Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
       
   
   
   1. 1. Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
       
   
   

6. 1. 1. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
       
   
   
   1. 1. The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
       
   
   
   1. 1. The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
       
   
   
   1. 1. Even so, it is well with my soul.
       
   
   

   
    
   

 

Books for Bucks! (in the spirit of Proverbs 31)

Proverbs 31:10-31

10 Who[b] can find a virtuous[c] wife? For her worth is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar. 15 She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night. 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle. 20 She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet. 22 She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants. 25 Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “ Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.

 I have been so anxious to get this post written! In the spirit of trying to be a Proverbs 31 woman, I'm so excited about my new little endeavor and thought I would share the secret of my new little "business".  Do you have things in your house that you need to get rid of?  Of COURSE you do!  Well, for us, we are book junkies.  We read everything that we can get our hands on.  My husband and I absolutely LOVE to go to the bookstore and to the library together.  As a matter of fact, that's one of our favorite things to do on a date night.....dinner out and then a cup coffee or hot tea at the book store.  

 Well, after all those trips to the bookstore, the bookshelves around here are pretty full...bulging at the seams actually.  So, about a month ago, I decided that after as many times that I've ordered books from other people via Amazon, why couldn't I join their ranks?  So guess what?  I DID!  And that's when The Wifes Books was born!  The best thing is that I no sooner listed about 20 books the first time and cha-ching!  They started selling like hotcakes!  The more I listed the quicker they sold.  In one month's time, I have made over $100 with NO EFFORT! 

And the method behind my madness?  Well, now that there is so much new technology out there with the book reading devices (like the Barnes & Noble "Nook" or the Amazon "Kindle"), I thought that it would be great to turn my books into cash and trade them in for a reader  of my own.  And the best part to having my (our) reader is that it doesn't take up any space!  And....it will hold like 1500 books!  What's more, there are thousands and thousands of free books available, and even the ones that you buy are so much cheaper than buying the regular books. 

 As of today, I'm over half way to the price of getting the reader.  I mailed out three books today and before I could even get home from the post office, another one sold!  Since we have two post offices very close to home, it's no inconvenience at all to drop them in the mail each day that the sales are made.  

So do you want to know how easy it is and how the money works?  Well, all you have to do is create a "Seller" account on Amazon (super easy).  Once you create your account, then you're ready to start listing your books.  Every book has an "ISBN" number on the back of it (or maybe inside the cover, or within the first couple of pages of the book).  All you have to do it type in the ISBN number and that's it!  The computer finds your book and matches it to the ISBN number.  Then the system will let you list the condition of the book and tell you what the "going rate" is for that book.  You choose your price and hit "submit".....BAM--you have inventory!  And each time a book sells, you get an email from Amazon advising you to ship the purchase within two business days.  There is a button on the order to print out a packing slip to include with the shipment.  And, once you ship it, you will go back to the order and mark it "shipped" with the "confirm shipment" button.  When you confirm the shipment, Amazon then charges the buyer's credit card and ZAP.....they put the money in your "payment account".  IT'S THAT EASY!  

And this just happens to be what I have chosen to sell...it is certainly not limited to books.  You can sell virtually anything on Amazon.  So, what have you got that isn't being used around your house that you could turn into cold, hard cash?  You have absolutely nothing to lose but you have everything to gain!  

 

  

Wal Mart Babies and Cowboy Cowards

 

 

I really had a great day today for the most part.  It started with work and then after leaving work, I headed about 20 miles north of my town to go and visit one of my best friends, who also just happens to do my hair too. We always have the best times laughing and cutting up and the bonus is that I get my hair done by one of the finest hair dressers in the county.  Tonight was a little different because I had to stop at Wal Mart on the way home.  It was SO busy in there (when isn't it?)!  I got there at 6:00, went straight to the pharmacy, talked to my other best friend, who happens to be my pharmacist also, grabbed some groceries from the list that my husband emailed to my Blackberry and headed for the check out.  

Up to this point, everything had been great.  I'd had a pleasant afternoon and got to see some great friends.  I got the things that my husband needed....how bad could the check out be?  

So, there I was, third in line.  The first couple in line were together, a married couple. They were having a good time together, racked up a few bargains with the price matching by using the sale papers.  Then there was a very young girl behind them.  She couldn't have been more than about 15 or 16 if she was a day.  I could see that she had chosen not to put her item on the belt, but instead, was clutching the item tightly to her chest with her head down.  At that point, I had not really paid any more attention to the situation since the first couple was finishing up their couponing.  As they smiled and waved to the cashier, the young girl stepped up.  With head down, she thrust the item to the cashier as if to tell her to please hurry and put it in the bag.  Do you know how your brain will suddenly kick into gear and say "hey you....wake up....pay attention!".  Well, that was my brain....as I looked up, I realized what she had thrust at the cashier.  It was a pregnancy test.  This is one of the busiest Wal Marts around and this evening it was packed.  I could see how nervous she was.  She was practically shaking.  But what came next was so unsettling.  As she finished her transaction, she practically grabbed the bag and the receipt from the cashier and took off in a bee-line to the women's restroom!  Not only was this girl young, but now I realized that she was young, alone and about to go to a Wal Mart public bathroom to find out what would or would not be happening to her in the next nine months.  This made me want to break down and cry, right there at the cash register.  I wanted to go and follow her and talk to her about Jesus.  I wanted her to know that there is a hope for her and for her unborn child.  but, there I was, checking out groceries and this little girl was all alone in the restroom for this life changing moment.  

Well, I paid the cashier, signed the little screen and headed for the door.  In doing so, I almost bumped straight into the young girl.  She had a tear in her eye and a very blank look on her face.  As I was getting my keys out of my purse, I noticed her walk up to the curb outside and look both ways.  I thought she was just checking to see if a car was coming before going and getting into her car.  Nope...that's not why she was looking.  I knew it when I heard it.  It was the engine to a very big truck.  The driver of that truck was (what I am assuming) her boyfriend.  Her BOYFRIEND!  This child had just walked into the middle of a busy store, bought a pregnancy test, gone to the bathroom to take it and meanwhile, the cowboy coward was riding around the parking lot listening to some tunes on the radio.  

Before I knew it, I was so angry.  Not angry that I wanted to go and commit a sin, but righteously angry at what I had just seen take place right before my eyes.  All I could think about were two verses.  The first verse that came to mind was directed towards myself:

 4:26-27 (New King James Version)

²⁶ “Be angry, and do not sin”:^[a] do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil.

And the other scriptures that came to mind were relating to what I knew was probably the inevitable....a new little life that had been created:

Psalm 139:13-17 (New International Version)

¹³ For you created my inmost being; 

       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

 ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

       your works are wonderful, 

       I know that full well.

 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you 

       when I was made in the secret place. 

       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

 ¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body. 

       All the days ordained for me 

       were written in your book 

       before one of them came to be.

 ¹⁷ How precious to ^[b] me are your thoughts, O God! 

       How vast is the sum of them!

I can't get the pictures out of my mind.  I can only pray for this new little life that has been created.  I pray that the Lord will put divine appointments in the path of this very young girl that will show her how special this little life is and that it is just that....a life.  I pray that this young girl has a godly influence somewhere in her life.  I pray that she will confide in them and that they will point her down the right path.  I pray for that desperate adoptive couple out there that is anxiously awaiting a baby, possibly this baby.

Dear Lord, thank you for allowing me to witness this tonight.  Let it be a continuing reminder to me of all of the children out there who are scared and alone and are finding themselves in the midst of parenthood at too young of an age.  I pray that You Lord will place divine appointments in the path of this girl.  Lord, most of all, protect that little life that she is carrying.  If this child is being prepared for another family,  Father I pray that it would be a smooth transition for all involved.  

Lord, thank You that You are sovereign.  Thank you for salvation through the death of your Son Jesus on the cross.

Amen

 

Calling all Sisters! (The Great Washer-Dryer Debate of 2010)

In the spirit of my blog friend Joanne's prompting some months ago to become an "American Frugal Housewife", I'm calling on you for help!  I love a bargain, but I also want top quality as well.  And, the time is here....what time is that you ask?  

Well, it's that time..... time to send the old washer and dryer out to pasture (or, should I say "out to scrap") and time to purchase some shiny new appliances (don't you just love new appliances?).  I certainly don't want to have to resort to the antiques in the picture above!

I can't help but think of that old Cosby Show episode when Claire told Cliff that he was addicted to appliances and that they had "an appliance graveyard" underneath the counter.  You remember the episode...she scolded him because he is the one that bought the shiny new juicer, the one that Rudy and Peter decided to load full of grapes(to make grape jelly) that created the "great grape explosion" in their kitchen. And then cute little Peter said "I was just holding the bread"!  Ah...memory lane! But I digress....

Okay, but back to the task at hand.  Who better to ask opinions from than those who are in the trenches with me?  Ladies...I ask you, what are your favorites in the way of washers and dryers? Like I said, quality is a must, but I do love a great deal.  I have had Whirlpool for many years (those are the ones that are out the door), but my options are open.  I want efficiency, I want quality, I want ease of use, I want a FABULOUS price, and most of all, I want very clean clothes!  

So, what works for you....what have you been pleased with in recent times?  In the meantime...I'm off to do some washer and dryer research!  Onward and upward!

 

 

 

 

Don't You Like Free Money? (An American Frugal Housewife Article)

If someone came up to you in the grocery store and handed you a fist full of dollar bills for free, with no strings attached, wouldn't you take them?  They were free...so why wouldn't you?  That's EXACTLY what you get when you use coupons....a fist full of free dollar bills!  Who can't use free money? 

I have always loved bargain shopping and I have always loved coupon-ing.  As of late, I have really tried to get back into it full swing.  As a matter of fact, I have not been to the store in the last several weeks without using coupons.  And it's so great when they hit that button and then you say..."oh wait, I have some coupons"...and then that total starts to drop!  I have this little ritual of wanting them to hit the total button first, before the coupons come off....I LOVE seeing the total start to drop!  Admit it...you know you love to see that total drop too!  I believe that the Lord gives us opportunities to be good stewards, and further, I fully believe that being able to use coupons and bargain shop can be an integral part of being a good steward.  

So, in the spirit of trying to be a an American Frugal Housewife, I'll leave you with this interesting and thought provoking little article that my sweet husband sent to me from the Wall Street Journal.  I thought that this was some really great information and hope that you will benefit from it too!  

 

Doing the Math on Coupons

They're back in fashion, with good reason: An hour spent cutting and clipping can yield about $100 in savings. Time well spent.

By BRETT ARENDS 

Clipping coupons hardly sounds like the subject of high finance–or even medium finance.

Save a dollar on cat food, some detergent or a couple of boxes of cereal. Who can be bothered? Who has the time?

A growing number of people, it turns out. And they're shrewder than it may at first appear.

The Great American Coupon is making a big comeback–thanks to the Great American Recession.

We redeemed some 3.3 billion coupons last year–a remarkable 27 percent leap from 2008, and the first year-on-year increase in 17 years, according to a report issued at the end of January by Inmar, a coupon-processing agent. (Online coupon use skyrocketed–companies issued twice as many as in 2008, but redemptions rose 360 percent.) The big upturn took off in October 2008, just after Lehman went belly up.

At first blush you can see why coupons fell out of fashion for so long–and why so many consumers still ignore them.

You have to make time to visit a coupon Web site or collect the flyers from your mailbox, the supermarket or newspaper inserts. You need to sort through to find the ones you want, cut them out, stick them in your purse or wallet–and remember to use them when you are at the cash register and you are trying to remember whether you bought everything on your shopping list and where you parked the car.

Average saving per coupon: Just $1.44, according to the Inmar report.

But let's treat this low finance topic for a moment the way we treat high finance. Let's subject it to the same math.

How long does it actually take to clip and use a coupon? Certainly the more you use, the less overall time you will spend per coupon, because so many of the costs–getting flyers, sorting coupons and so on–are generalized. Let's assume you spend a minute per coupon.

Saving $1.44 for a minute's effort is the equivalent of saving $14.40 for 10 minutes'.

Hourly rate: $86.40.

Associated Press

Maybe this would be as good a time as any to point out that the typical American working stiff–those lucky enough to have jobs right now–climbs out of bed each morning, goes through the miseries of commuting and endures the daily grind at the workplace for about $20 an hour.

Furthermore, money saved comes with an additional benefit. Unlike the money you earn at work, it is tax free. No payroll taxes. No federal or state income tax.

If your marginal tax rate were, say, 20 percent, you would have to earn $108 before tax to take home $86.40. If your marginal tax rate were 30 percent, you'd have to earn $123.

Very few of us ever do this kind of math, because we tend to treat low finance differently from high finance, and small sums differently from big ones. No wonder, even today, 99 percent of coupons are thrown away unused.

Yet finance isn't a separate topic from the rest of our personal lives. For all of us, our scarcest resource is time. Putting the right value on it, and putting it to the most productive use, is a financial challenge, as well as a personal one.

And the individual amounts of money may seem small, but they prove the old adage about tiny acorns and mighty oaks. Someone who saves $25 a week will save $100 a month, and $1,200 a year. Over a lifetime that can easily grow to $100,000 or more–even after accounting for inflation.

If motivation is an issue, the next time you find yourself facing a stack of coupon booklets and flyers don't ask yourself if you can be bothered. Try asking yourself if you'd like to earn more than $100 an hour for a job you can do, at home, while sitting on the sofa watching TV.

Write to Brett Arends at brett.arends@wsj.com

 

Peanut Butter and Banana Oatmeal

 What says love on a cold night more than a hot steamy bowl of oatmeal?  Well, it's been cold here again, so for supper tomorrow night, we are going to try a new spin on oatmeal...how about some Peanut Butter and Banana Oatmeal?  Honestly, there's not that much to it, but I thought it sounded pretty yummy.  The idea was on the Taste of Home website.  Not only does it sound great but it's a pretty frugal dish to make.  Add some toast on the side and we're done!   This is also great for me because Monday's are SO hectic at work.  It really is nice to have something quick on Monday's...then I don't mind cooking the rest of the week! And hey, not only is it quick, but it's definitely in the spirit of the American Frugal Housewife!

What's your quick fix for hectic Monday's?

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 3 cups milk or water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 2 large bananas, sliced
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

• In a large saucepan, bring milk and salt to a boil. Stir in oats; cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Stir in the bananas, peanut butter and vanilla. Yield: 4 servings.

 

 

 
 

   

 

Fireproof My Marriage Conference (March 19-20th)

If you are anywhere remotely close to one of these areas, I would highly encourage you to attend one of these marriage conferences.  My husband and I are just fortunate enough that our home church is hosting one of the conferences.  But there will be people coming from all over.  What an exciting and extremely needed event for couples.  

Dates & Locations

DATES	LOCATION	INFORMATION	CONTACT	REGISTRATION
February 5 - 6, 2010	Bossier City, LA First Baptist Church	Event details	LifeWay Registration 800.254.2022	REGISTER ONLINE
March 19 - 20, 2010	Saraland, AL First Baptist Church North Mobile	Event details	LifeWay Registration 800.254.2022	REGISTER ONLINE
March 26 - 27, 2010	Lutz, FL Idlewild Baptist Church	Event details	LifeWay Registration 800.254.2022	REGISTER ONLINE
September 10 - 11, 2010	Woodstock, GA First Baptist Church	Event details	LifeWay Registration 800.254.2022	REGISTER ONLINE

 

If you are planning to go, all you have to do is register on Lifeway's website.  We would love to see you there!  If you are coming to the event at our church, please make sure and let me know that you are coming!  I would love to see you at the event!

 

 

Marriage Monday--How to Celebrate February 14 Every Day of the Year

I'm so excited that we are back in the groove of "Marriage Monday"!  We took a little break for January, but now, we're all back and I hope the rest of our ladies are excited as I am about the inaugural 2010 Marriage Monday post.  As always, a big thanks to E-Mom at C H R Y S A L I S for being our gracious hostess for our humble little meme.  E-Mom is a friend, an encourager, a wife, a mother and most importantly a woman of the Lord, saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you E-Mom!

So, on with this month's question! 

How do you celebrate February 14th every day of the year? 

Well, I'm not going to waste any time here.  Obviously, I am married to another sinner, just like I am a sinner.  BUT THE BEAUTY OF THE TWO OF US SINNERS being married to each other is that we are not just going to enjoy our earthly lives together here on this deteriorating earth, but WE ARE GOING TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH JESUS!   It is not of ourselves that we are saved but only through faith in Jesus Christ ("For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God" Ephesians 2:8).

So how do Rob and I, imperfections and all, manage to (relatively) have Valentines every day of the year?  Well, honestly, it's not Valentines every day of the year for us, just because for us, that's a high goal to have.  I would like to think that in the next 20 years that we would "arrive" at having met this goal, but for now, we have managed to be as "Valentine-sey" throughout each week as we can. 

Here are a few things that may not mean "diddley-squat" to the next couple, but for us, they are the things that keep our hearts knitted tightly together:

• Driving on a Saturday morning, having some breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then going to Barnes and Noble to have coffee while we pour over books that we love.  And in case you need to know, that's a triple venti latte, no fat, no foam for Rob and for me, that's a venti soy caramel latte with whip!

• Eating supper together every night, talking about our day, solving a few of the world's problems and maybe painting some pictures in our minds of some of the things that we would like to accomplish in our lives as individuals, but also as a married couple.

• Laughing so hard until we almost cry---doesn't matter what it is, this can happen over a wide variety of subject matter.

• Enjoying sweet times with our family or friends....those times when the world just melts away while we carry on a championship Scrabble game.

• Celebrating and praying over the lives of our precious nieces and nephews, thanking God for the love in our hearts for these children

• Going to a quaint neighborhood fine dining restaurant a few blocks from our home to be greeted by the chef himself and to enjoy one of his fabulous creations while surrounded by the coziest and most quiet ambiance.  It's so relaxing and unwinding!  Thanks Chuck....you're the best!

• Listening to the "rain and the gentle storm" coming from the iPod docking station as we go to sleep each night.  

• Letting our feet "snuggle" together on cold nights....which leads to much better snuggling, if you ask me!  Did it suddenly get hot in here or is it just me?

• Telling a great story about some of our late relatives...keeping their memories alive...lots of remeniscing.

• Getting away at a condo at the Gulf every now and then on a weekend.  It's nice to leave the rat race behind and go to the beach.  I love the winter and early spring retreats to the beach....especially before it gets too hot.  It's so fabulous to sleep with the bedroom balcony doors open and listen to the crashing surf outside.

• Going to the library and spending quiet time with each other.  It's so funny...we can be as quiet as a church mouse, but we still sit there and "chat" through our thoughts....it's like we know what each other is thinking sometimes, just without talking.  All of that mind reading sometimes results in laughter....at which time we have to leave the library!

• Saying "I love you" before the end of every phone call or anytime we are going to be apart, without fail.

• Being each other's "one and only".....we are married for life.

I hope that you will take some of our words in "bold" and try them in your marriage.  These things have worked for us so far.  We both thank God ever day for the incredible blessing that He gave us when he knitted the fibers of our hearts together so closely....so tightly.  

What says "Valentines" to you dear friend?

xoxoxox,

 

 

Marriage Monday is Coming.....And Love Is In The Air!!!!

It's that time again ladies!  Marriage Monday will be here in a couple of short days!  I pray that you will join our group, either as a contributor or even as a reader.  The more the merrier!  We love the diversity of the articles and would love to have as many contributors as we can get.  

Here is the post from our lovely hostesses (E-Mom's) website, C H R Y S A L I S.  I pray that you can make it!  If you have any questions before then, please do not hesitate to contact me here or you can contact E-Mom over at her site as well.

Big Blessings!

 

Dear Sister,

 

Seeking Your Submission

Please join us for Marriage Monday on Feb. 1, 2010. By majority vote this month's topic is, "How to Celebrate February 14 Every Day of the Year."

Valentine’s day can be a wonderful way to rev up our love and really “pop the cork.” But most of us know that a satisfying day-to-day relationship needs more of our creative energy than a once-a-year budget-busting bonanza does.

The “Us” Factor
This month, your challenge is to share how you and your husband make each and every day of your marriage special.What are your daily relationship rituals? How do you nurture the “us” factor? Tell us the big or little things that make your marriage sing like a fine-tuned violin. A few examples:

• Casual chats
• Kissing
• Private jokes
• Rehearsed phrases
• Body language
• Shared activities
• Favorite foods
• Division of chores
• Intimacy signals

You get my drift. (You certainly don’t need to cover every area listed. Just use them to prime the pump.) By sharing your ideas, you’ll motivate the precious women in our Marriage Monday community make a few improvements.

I’m sure you agree that it’s much better for our marriages to heading toward the bedroom, and not boredom on a day-to-day basis!

 

Who needs February 14 when every day is Valentine’s Day?

Please Bring a Friend

Feel free to copy any part of this invitation and post it on your blog. As always, the more participants we have, the better.

 

See you this coming Monday!

 

Blessings,

 

e-Mom @ Chrysalis

http://chrysaliscom.blogspot.com

 

Quick Boeuf Bourguignon

Sorry I don't have pictures tonight...I guess that's why it's called "Quick" boeuf bourguignon!   But stick with me....you can do this.  It was VERY easy and VERY flavorful!

QUICK BOUEF BOURGUIGNON

2 pounds of good beef tips

1 large Spanish onion (yellow), sliced in very thin rounds 

1 sweet red bell pepper, cut in strips

10-12 sliced baby bella mushrooms with stems removed (baby portabellas--wiped free of dirt with damp paper towel, not washed under water)

1 cup red wine

15 oz. can beef broth

1 can cream of mushroom soup

extra virgin olive oil 

Kosher salt

Heat 2 Tbsp olive oil in a large dutch oven.  Add onions and bell peppers and sweat them down (keep them moving and don't let them caramelize). (I use a mandolin to slice the onions into the thin rounds.  If you don't have one, you can just use a knife...but be careful! ) Sprinkle a pinch of Kosher salt over the saute to help sweat them out.  Once they start to turn a little translucent, add sliced baby bellas and continue to saute.  Once the mushrooms start to saute well and start smelling nutty, remove everything from the pan into a large bowl and set aside.  With the same dutch oven, add another 2-3 Tbsp of olive oil and bring back up to temperature.  Salt and pepper the beef tips and then add to the hot olive oil.  Brown meat until outside is browned but inside is still rare.  Add back the veggies and mix together well.  Add the wine and the beef broth and bring back to a bubble.  Adjust the seasoning at this point to your taste.  Let sauce reduce for about 10 minutes on medium heat.  Once reduced, add cream of mushroom soup to tighten up the sauce.  Adjust seasoning again if you need to.

Serve with either rice or with broad egg noodles.  The sauce to this is SO flavorful.  I could just drink the sauce like a soup!  We had this tonight and it was SO yummy on a cool night!

Enjoy!  Or as Julia would say.....Bon Appetit!

 

Memory Monday--John 3:16

John 3:16 (New King James Version)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

I know that this is probably the very first "long" bible verse that I ever learned as a child.  And, yes, today is actually "Memory Monday", but I thought that maybe just today it could be "Remember Monday".   

I can't help but have the people of Haiti on my mind each day....it's everywhere.  Every time I turn on the TV at home, there it is.  Even walking the halls at work at the hospital, there it is....TV's hanging in waiting rooms.  More of Haiti.  My heart just breaks for these people...mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, little precious babies, sweet little children....all now surrounded by death, destruction, rotting flesh.....I can't imagine the stench that these poor people are enduring.  Can you imagine walking outside of what used to be your home and possibly having half, three quarters or maybe ALL of your relatives piled up in the street?  I don't know about you, but I grew up in a family where we sat around and played cards and endless board games together, especially when the whole family was together at the holidays.  I can't imagine sitting around playing Rook one minute and in the next minute, having my family members crushed into oblivion, right in front of my eyes.  I shudder to even think about the sheer horror of it all.  

But, in the midst of all of this death and destruction, God still came to save.  He still gave His ONLY begotten Son to come and give His life up, just so that we may have eternal life.  But most importantly, not only did He give His life up, but He ROSE from the grave in three days!  He broke the shackles of death so that you and I....and the precious people of Haiti too....could have eternal life.   The best and the easiest part of all of this is that salvation is a free gift...no strings attached, no payment (by us) required.  All that is required is that we realize our sin, admit our sin and then TURN from it in repentance.  That's how quickly God changes a life....eternally.  

I pray that in the midst of the cries coming from Haiti that God's glory will be evident to those watching what transpires.  I pray that there will be many lives saved, physically from the rubble, but most importantly, lives saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

So, even though I have had this verse for today committed to memory for probably a good 30+ years, I needed to remember the importance of the truth of this verse.  I pray that you will do the same and that you will continue to pray for those who are crying in Haiti tonight.  Pray for comfort for their great losses and for the torturous physical pain that so many are trying to endure.  And with that being said, I will leave you with another promise from the book of Revelation:

Revelation 21:4 (New King James Version)

⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

   

 

Please Sign On The Dotted Line

I don't know why I haven't added the code until now, but YAY, I have finally added Google Friend Connect to my blog!  I would love to hear from you if you are a regular on my blog...or even if you aren't a regular!  At any rate, I would love to have you hang out "at my house", so just "click on over"!

 

Green Is Not Your Best Color

Numbers 12 (New International Version)

Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

 ¹ Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. ²"Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?" And the LORD heard this.  ³ (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)   ⁴ At once the LORD said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, "Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you." So the three of them came out. ⁵ Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward, ⁶ he said, "Listen to my words: 

       "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, 
       I reveal myself to him in visions, 
       I speak to him in dreams.

 ⁷ But this is not true of my servant Moses; 
       he is faithful in all my house.

 ⁸ With him I speak face to face, 
       clearly and not in riddles; 
       he sees the form of the LORD. 
       Why then were you not afraid 
       to speak against my servant Moses?"

 ⁹ The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them.   ¹⁰ When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam—leprous, ^[a] like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy; ¹¹ and he said to Moses, "Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. ¹² Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother's womb with its flesh half eaten away."

 ¹³ So Moses cried out to the LORD, "O God, please heal her!"

 ¹⁴ The LORD replied to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back." ¹⁵ So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back.   ¹⁶ After that, the people left Hazeroth and encamped in the Desert of Paran. 

My bible study today ended up being in a book of the bible that I think might sometimes be considered an "obscure" book of the bible, if there could be such a thing.  But, it's where I've landed the last couple of days and quite frankly, it's been a great place to be.  I have a new women's study bible that I picked up at church last Sunday night (you can find it in A Pair of Bartletts Bookshop under the "bibles" category.  It's a women's devotional bible that has some really great daily studies, as well as some topical reading lists in the back of the bible.  It's very organized so that you can direct your study with less fuss.  

At any rate, I'm really enjoying the setup of this bible.  Today's study was in chapter 12 of the book of Numbers.  The chapter begins with Aaron and Miriam questioning why God is using Moses more than He is using them.  For some reason, they forgot about all of the things that they were being used for by the Lord and decided that Moses was basically "getting more credit".  

How quick are we in our daily lives to decide that someone else has something better, is doing something better, is moving up quicker, or is less stressed out than we are?  It's so easy to do when we are in our flesh.  I am the chief of sinners and am preaching to myself.  Dear Lord, let me be reminded :  

Proverbs 14:30 (New International Version)

 ³⁰ A heart at peace gives life to the body, 
       but envy rots the bones.

I have not always been quick to thank God for my circumstances.  But I find myself at a place in my life where I can honestly say it's so much easier to be content with what I have and the blessings that the Lord has so graciously bestowed upon me.  It's so much less stressful with contentment than with worry (over what your neighbor has, has done, is going to....).

How do you handle bringing envy under control?  Do you have control over the green eyed monster?  Have you given your burdens to the Lord to let Him work them out in His timing?  I will leave you with this:

James 3:14-18 (New International Version)

¹⁴But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.¹⁵Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

 ¹⁷But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

 

Please visit our store:

Expresso!

I am so glad to be a part of a local body of believers that has a great Women's ministry.  I am headed to get ready to go now, but thought I would share our plans for this evening.  It's a time for the ladies to get together over "espresso" and "expresso" what's going on in our lives regarding a certain topic.  Here is the invite for our gathering tonight.  What are you doing in your Women's ministries?

Women make plans to participate in an "Expresso" event at NOMO! We will be having a conversation about about a woman's body, closet and her soul. How does the culture around us effect how we define beauty? Do we have an healthy perspective about our bodies and our health? Has the fashion industry dictated to us what we should wear?

Women need to find a Biblical guide to navigate decisions concerning their bodies, their dress and how much we will be influenced by the world around us.

Should we be "unfashionable" in a fashionable world? Come join the discussion.
And oh yes, bring a friend.

Haiti: An on-the-ground assessment « Expository Thoughts

The following is from Ron Pierre, board President for Baptist Haiti Mission:

So many of you are inquiring regarding the situation in Haiti and particularly at the mission. I’ve just now been able to make telephone contact with one of our missionaries, Chris Lieb at Baptist Haiti Mission. Thankfully, the connection was clear and intact long enough for me to inquire as to the current situation. I honestly do not know where to start, the conditions in Haiti are desperate and deteriorating by the moment in spite of all that we hear relative to the aid that is “pouring in” from the US and other countries. I am simply going to list some of the things he was able to relate to me without regard to sequence. Those of you who have been there and/or are familiar with the compound in Fermathe will better understand the conditions, however, all of you will gain a sense of the severity of what our people face.

* Our hospital is filled with people 250-300 people lying in the halls, many, many with serious injuries that need immediate attention, more people outside and surrounding areas with a constant flow coming in.

* Our doctors are exhausted, most all of our staff are assigned to the hospital.

* Thousands of people sleeping in the park just below in Petion-Ville, afraid to return to their homes.

* At least 10 to 15 thousand people are sleeping in the park near the airport with roving gangs of hoodlums attempting to steal whatever “aid” arrives before it gets to the helpless people.

* People all along the roads with serious injuries, multiple fractures and puncture wounds; bleeding and unattended.

* Chris passed women grasping their dying children in their arms, after a while it becomes overwhelming because there is not a thing that you can do about it..

* Countless small children wandering about without any parents or adult oversight.

* The initial stunned calm that was over the population is rapidly turning to despair and in many cases anger. There is a real danger of things turning very ugly, potentially for those who are beginning to arrive to help.

* For most of the “search and rescue” people that have arrived or will arrive, it will be far, far too late to save lives. The stench of death everywhere and is overwhelming. Many places have seen no help whatsoever.

* There are piles of bodies in many roads and some have become “roadblocks” in and of themselves. [Haiti]

* Many people are simply in shock, most have lost at least one or more family members.

* Vehicles are abandon, roads are blocked or down to one tight lane as large chucks of the mountain have fallen.

* Chris gave out about 100 very large heavy duty tarps today to be used as temporary shelters and it got very ugly as the last ones were dispersed. The actual process of giving out aid is going to be quite dangerous the longer it takes to reach the people.

* There appears to be no oversight of the “teams” arriving. They are equipped but do not know where to go or how to get there. It may improve but it is going to continue to be a big problem.

* Medical supplies are running low at our hospital; I asked for a list of the supplies that they need we can be a bit more specific in our requests when aid does arrive.

* We have a need for anesthesiologists and orthopedic surgeons. Any medical personnel would be a blessing.

* Chris commented that he has seen things over the past several days that he hoped he would never see and would chose never to see again.

* Many people are simply walking around in what is really clinical shock.

* Everything is closed down; no stores, no markets, water is in tight supply and is running out fast.

* People walk up and down the mountain just looking for their families; there is no transportation.

* The Samaritans Purse people were supposed to arrive today with Greta Van Susteren of FOXNews.com. The plane circled for about an hour but could not land. They returned to Miami.

* The same was true for several other planes caring supplies and aid for the mission. We desperately need a pump and water filters that are coming in.

* All in all, there are no words to describe what is taking place, the TV news gives inadequate for those of you who know Haiti, the conditions, the culture, the people.

* Two of our churches in PAP have been completely destroyed, we do not have reports on the many churches in outlying rural areas yet.

* Most every school in PAP is destroyed, personnel killed. It will be a long, long time before there will be any schools in PAP.

* Our chaplains have been ministering to every single person who comes to the hospital; scripture is read and they pray with each and every one. We do have some very dedicated people.

* Our mission families are all accounted for and remain uninjured; we need to uphold them in prayer during these times. God certainly gives the strength and grace when needed. They recognize that the tasks before them are humanly impossible; They also recognize that prayer is the greatest asset they have in this trial.

* We are trying to keep the website current with pictures, video, and various other feeds . . . . go to www.bhm.org. It may be a bit slow due to traffic but it does function. [Haiti] Our thanks to all of you who have inquired, emailed, called, and written and otherwise displayed your love and concern, this has been equally overwhelming! It is now almost 2:00 am Friday morning EST and time ready ourselves for a new day. Again, I close with Psalm 20, verses 1 and 2: “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!” –R.A.Pierre

[HT: Phil Johnson]

via expositorythoughts.wordpress.com

This is a sobering word posted on my brother's blog regarding the "real life-non media" picture of what is happening in Haiti. Please read this and please pray.

 

He Is STILL In Haiti and He is STILL in Control

The pictures this week have been agonizing, disturbing...incredibly chilling.  I can't write very much about the devastation because it overwhelms me too much to even think about the death and destruction of such epic proportions that has occurred this week.

But I know this, my friend--

MY GOD is still in control.  He has not changed.  This has not caught Him by surprise. He is not shocked.  

But He IS sovereign.  

He IS omnicient.  

He IS omnipresent.  

He IS the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  He IS Adonai, the Lord my great Lord.  He IS Elohim, the all powerful One Creator.  He IS El Roi, the God who sees (them).  He IS El Shaddai, the all sufficient one, the God of the mountains, God Almighty.  He IS Immanuel, God with us (THEM).  He IS Jehovah, (YHWH), I AM. He IS Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals.  He IS Jehovah Rohi, the Lord is my (their) Shepherd.  He IS Jehova Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness. 

My heart aches for the people of Haiti.  I know that my God has a plan.  I don't know what that plan is but I know that He has it (and them) in the palm of His hand.  I pray that unbelievers would come to know Jesus as a result of this horrific tragedy.  

Just pray,

 

Jeremi 29:11-14 (Haitian Creole Version)

¹¹Se mwen ki konnen sa m' gen nan tèt mwen pou nou. Se mwen menm Seyè a k'ap pale. Se byen nou mwen ta vle wè, pa malè nou. Mwen ta vle denmen nou jwenn sa n'ap tann lan.

    ¹²Lè sa a, n'a rele m', n'a vin lapriyè nan pye m', m'a reponn nou.

    ¹³N'a chache m', n'a jwenn mwen paske n'a chache m' ak tout kè nou.

    ¹⁴Wi, m'a kite nou jwenn mwen. Se mwen menm ki di sa. M'a fè peyi nou an kanpe ankò. M'ap pase men m' ranmase nou nan tout peyi toupatou kote m' te gaye nou yo. M'ap mennen nou tounen kote m' te pran nou pou m' te depòte nou an. Se mwen menm Seyè a ki di sa.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (New King James Version)

¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

 

 

Roasted Sweet Potatoes (Julie's Recipe)

If you liked the roasted cream of asparagus soup recipe earlier this week, then you have to try this one.  I have to give all the credit to my sweet sister in law, Julie.  She is a fabulous cook and the one who turned me on to doing sweet potatoes this way.  Honestly, I was SO skeptical as to how my taste buds would react.  I have this sweet vs. savory phobia....I don't like them mixed together..usually.  And since we're in the Deep South, sweet potatoes are not usually done this way.  They are usually all covered up with everything from brown sugar to marshmallow to four inches of butter.  But not these!  Give them a try!

(2 servings)

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into cubes

extra virgin olive oil

coarse Kosher salt

fresh ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 450°.  potatoes into 2 inch cubes.  Spread into a single layer on a baking sheet (Julie and I use a Pampered Chef stoneware "bar pan").  Drizzle generously with extra virgin olive oil.  Then sprinkle with Kosher salt and give about 15 grinds with the black pepper mill.   Roast for about 20 minutes or until fork tender.  

I served these with my cream of oven roasted asparagus soup and some homemade cornbread for dinner the other night.  They were all a hit, especially on a very cold winter night!

Enjoy!

 

Cream of Oven Roasted Asparagus Soup

It's SO cold here in our home town right now (has been in the 20's)!  If that were not enough, I myself have had the sniffles for the past week.  With that being said, I had a craving for some soup tonight but didn't want the "same-old same-old" standby, like veggie beef or chicken noodle.  No, tonight, I was craving something "gourmet-ish", but at the same time, REALLY easy and quick.  

Here is my quick and easy take on a VERY fast pot of cream of roasted asparagus soup. You could essentially follow this same recipe but could substitute other veggies, such as broccoli, cauliflower, butternut squash or any other veggie that you would like to try.  

Soup....it's "what's for dinner"!  Enjoy!

CREAM OF OVEN ROASTED ASPARAGUS SOUP

(serves 4 bowls or 6 cups of soup)

1 bunch of asparagus 

1 pint of heavy cream (or half and half, your preference)

3 cups 2% milk (I use Horizon Organic with DHA Omega-3)

coarse Kosher salt

fresh ground black pepper

1 or 2 dashes of garlic powder

1 or 2 dashes of onion powder

extra virgin olive oil

Danish Havarti cheese for grating (optional)

Preheat oven to 450°.  Take each asparagus stalk and bend it.  The stalk will snap when you do this.  Discard the end of the stalk that snapped off.  Once you have snapped all of the stalks, place then in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Drizzle them with a hefty (not soaking) drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and then sprinkle them with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.  Then take a pair of tongs and toss them to coat all of the stalks.  Spread them back into a single layer and roast in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until they are tender, but still bright green in color. 

(pictured above, roasted asparagus that has been cut and ready to go in the processor) 

Remove the roasted veggies from the oven.  Cut the hot asparagus into "canned green bean sized" pieces.  Place the hot veggies in a food processor or a blender and pureé.  Once pureed, stream in the heavy cream and continue to process.  Then stream in the .. 

(pictured above, hot steamy asparagus, ready to be processed) 

Once combined, remove the mixture and put into a pot and heat on medium high until very hot but not boiling.  Add the garlic powder and onion powder.  Adjust the salt and pepper to your taste and serve.  Add a grating of a little Danish Havarti cheese to the top for extra flavor and maybe some extra pepper.

 

 

Check Your Schedule

It's already a few days into January and just look!  My shiny, fresh, new Dachshund calendar is already filling up with tasks, things to remember and places to be!!  Last weekend, my mom and I were out of town visiting my brother and his family about five hours north of here.  While sitting in church last Sunday morning, my brother delivered a sobering reminder in his sermon.  It was very simple, yet extremely timely and extremely profound.  His reminder was regarding "New Years Resolutions--should you have them"?  Simply stated, he challenged us to not necessarily make new year's resolutions, but to maybe look at the new year in a different light.  He asked us to maybe put aside the traditional listing of our new year "to-do's" and maybe look at the new year ahead as 365 individual and new opportunities to serve the Lord in some capacity.  WOW.  Okay brother, you got me.  

So this year, instead of thinking so much of myself and what "I" need, I'm refocusing.  What can I do for the Lord and for others?  Can I find 365 new opportunities in 2010?

What's on your schedule?

 

If you would like to hear my brother's sermon, leave me a comment to this post (and include your email!) and I'll be happy to direct you to his podcast.
 

Rubba Dub Scrub! (Homemade Buttermilk Bath Salt Scrub)

Admit it.  You've spent LOADS of money on those store bought salt scrubs that promise to deliver "glowing skin", "renewed skin", "beautiful skin"....fill in the blank skin.  "Get better sleep!", "Wisk away to the islands!", "Calgon....take me away!!!!!!!!!!"  

They are all great, they all smell really nice, but cheap, they're not.  I ran across a tip a few years ago that I thought I would share with you.  I promise that it will deliver the same results, but you will find it FAR cheaper by making it for yourself at home.  There are only 4 things (maybe 5) that you need and PRESTO....extra cash in your wallet and nicely sloughed,  glowing skin in the process.

What you will need:

• Course Kosher salt
• Buttermilk
• A small mixing bowl (not glass, since you will be using it in the shower or bath)
• A spoon
• Essential oil of your choice (optional)

Pour the Kosher salt into the mixing bowl and pour out only as much as you think that you need for your application (don't mix up vast amounts of the scrub since it does contain buttermilk, which will spoil).   Add the buttermilk, a tablespoon at a time.  Mix the scrub until it resembles the consistency of grits or cream of wheat.  I mix it in a disposable plastic ziploc or gladware bowl since it's going to be used in the shower.  That way, if there is any left, I can put the lid on it and leave it in the bathroom.  You don't want to leave it for more than a day due to the buttermilk, but carrying leftovers to the next night's shower will not be an issue.  Also, if you want to add fragrance to the scrub other than the scent of the buttermilk, add a drop or two of the essential oil of your choice.  If you are trying to mimic some of the trends in scents like the "sleep" scents, try using a drop or two of lavender essential oil.  

One last thing, this is not just for the ladies!  Ladies, you can mix this up for your husband!  The salt is a natural healer and the buttermilk is a great skin softener.  Hope you try it....let me know how you like it!

 

 

 
 

Good Night, See You Next Year

New King James Version (NKJV)
Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea        And a path through the mighty waters,
18 “ Do not remember the former things,        Nor consider the things of old.         19 Behold, I will do a new thing,        Now it shall spring forth;        Shall you not know it?        I will even make a road in the wilderness        And rivers in the desert.         New King James Version (NKJV)

 

Blue moon to shine on New Year's Eve - CNN.com

via www.cnn.com

 ³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

         The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
 ⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
         And the son of man that You visit him?
 ⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
         And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
          (Psalm 8:3-5, New King James Version)

As the blue moon rises for us tomorrow night, let us not forget the One who will be hanging this glorious decoration in the night sky for us to behold.

 

Memory Monday--Ruth 1:16-17

(Nicholas Poussin 1594-1665)

Summer (Ruth and Boaz) 

I know that I have posted these memory verses earlier this year.  But tonight the phone rang while I was cleaning the dinner dishes.  It was a call that I wasn't expecting, but that I was overjoyed to receive.  My sweet Father in Law, who has been so very sick and in the hospital at Duke Univeristy for a while is FINALLY at home!  It was so great to hear his voice knowing that he is at home and not in a hospital bed for the first time in over a month.  I had been trying to decide what verses to post today.  After taking the call from Daddy B, it was quite clear what I needed to post about.  The verses tried to make their way into my thoughts but I was missing some pieces.  So today, I'm revisiting some verses that I hold very dear. 

  ¹⁶ But Ruth said:

      “ Entreat me not to leave you,
      Or to turn back from following after you;
      For wherever you go, I will go;
      And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
      Your people shall be my people,
      And your God, my God.

 ¹⁷ Where you die, I will die,
      And there will I be buried.
      The LORD do so to me, and more also,
      If anything but death parts you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17, New King James Version)  

What are some special verses for you that the Lord has brought to the forefront for you?

 

 

Christmas Carrots (A Super Soufflé)

Christmas Carrots

(my adaptation of the Piccadilly restaurant's recipe for carrot soufflé) 

4 pounds of baby carrots (pre peeled in bags)

2 sticks of salted real butter

5 large eggs, well beaten

3 tsp. baking powder

1 ½ cups sugar

4 Tbsp. flour

3 tsp. pure vanilla extract

powdered sugar for dusting

 

1.  Boil the baby carrots until very tender and drain them well.  While the carrots are hot, puree them in a food processor until smooth.  I have a large food processor, so I puree them in two batches.  Divide the butter into how many batches that you are going to puree.  For me, doing two batches, I use 1 stick of butter in each batch.  If you are doing 4 batches of puree, then you would use ½ stick of butter with each batch.  It will depend on how large your processor is as to how many batches of puree that you will need to do.  

 

2.  Measure dry ingredients and add them to a mixing bowl and set aside.  Once you have finished all of your puree, add puree to dry ingredients and mix with a heavy spatula.  Take out 2-3 Tbsp. of the mixture and add to the bowl of beaten eggs to temper the eggs.  Once mixed, add the egg mixture back to the large bowl of the carrot mixture and blend thoroughly.  

 

3.  Preheat the oven to 350°.  Spray a 9" x 13" baking dish with non stick cooking spray.  Pour the soufflé mixture into the baking dish and bake at 350° for 1 hour.  If using a disposable aluminum dish, choose the 9" x 13" lasagne pan.  If using a dish of your own, a 9" x 13" glass dish works well.  

 

4.  Dust the top of the soufflé with powdered sugar and serve hot.

 

 This dish has become one of my immediate family's favorites, so much so that no one want sweet potato casserole anymore.  I made this on Christmas Eve for an extended family gathering.  It went over very well, especially considering that it was being served to a "die hard" sweet potato casserole crowd!

It's so good that you can even eat it as a dessert!

Enjoy!

 

 

 
 
 

Born This Day

     
⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
       ¹⁴ “ Glory to God in the highest,
      And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

¹⁵ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. ¹⁷ Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:8-20, New King James Version)

Jesus is the ONLY reason!

 

All Is Calm, All Is Bright

Luke 2 (New King James Version)

Luke 2

Christ Born of Mary

 ¹ And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. ³ So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,^[a] who was with child. ⁶ So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Jesus is the ONLY reason!

  

 

Memory Monday--Matthew 5:1-11

I think one of the greatest bible studies I ever attended was a ladies weekend with the most precious and a most anointed teacher, Margaret Ashmore.  The study was on the beatitudes from Matthew 5:1-11.  I'll never forget sitting in the pew in the chapel at Cottage Hill Baptist Church listening to Margaret delve deep, deep into each verse one by one, so deep that we could have probably spent a weeks study on each verse by itself.  As I was trying to decide the last few days about Memory Monday, the memory of this study jumped to the forefront of my mind.  I know I still have my notes from that study somewhere...and I'm going to find them this week...it's my mission.  I know that they are over 11 or 12 years old, but I think I may be able to find that journal!

What studies have made a lasting impression on you and on your walk with the Lord over the years?

Matthew 5

The Beatitudes

 ¹ And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. ² Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
       ³ “ Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
       ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
       ⁵ Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
       ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
       ⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
       ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
       ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
       ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 ¹¹ “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

He's Still in the Marriage Business

 

1 Corinthians 7:10-16 (New King James Version)

Keep Your Marriage Vows

   
¹⁰ Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. ¹¹ But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. 
¹² But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. ¹³ And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in suchcases. But God has called us to peace. ¹⁶ For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

I don't want this post to take away from the charges listed in the scriptures above.  I simply want to tell you that today, I personally witnessed the mighty hand of the Lord Jesus Christ move through a broken marriage that was most certainly on the way to the dark guillotine of divorce.  The last few weeks in the lives of this family have been lives ridden with torment by the Enemy.  But today, the Enemy's head was crushed!  His manipulative plans to destroy a wife, a husband and two children were FOILED by the Lord God almighty!  Since the attack on this family began a few weeks ago, there have been hundreds of prayers lifted to the Lord in intercession.  We have been believing and standing on the truths that our God is sovereign, He is faithful and just to forgive and He is our Advocate!  He is "El Roi", "The God Who Sees Me".  There are no circumstances that escape His supreme awareness of our lives and all that is happening in them.  Praise God for the power of conviction and for the healing salve that He is applying to this couple and their family.  Thank you Lord....You receive all the glory!  

Zephaniah 3:17 (New King James Version)

¹⁷ The LORD your God in your midst, 
      The Mighty One, will save; 
      He will rejoice over you with gladness, 
      He will quiet you with His love, 
      He will rejoice over you with singing.”